Starting the Conversation . . . in the Wrong Place

National Immigration Law Center Reacts to GOP Immigration Principles

WASHINGTON — The House GOP leadership released a single-page document outlining their principles for overhauling the nation’s immigration system, which has not been updated since 1986. The principles include a plan to allow those who came to the country as children to earn U.S. citizenship, but they leave many of the nation’s 11 million aspiring citizens without a dedicated road to this status. The principles also call for increased border militarization and payment of back taxes by those looking to adjust their immigration status. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center:

“Republican leadership has taken a step forward, and we’re pleased that they have finally decided to join the effort to revamp our nation’s immigration laws. Unfortunately, too many of the proposals outlined today remind us only of ghosts of anti-immigrant bills past: mandatory E-Verify without workplace protections, uncertain roads to permanent status in this country, and other blocks that could make the road to legalization — let alone citizenship — unaffordable and unattainable.

“John Boehner and others have finally acknowledged that doing nothing on immigration will hurt them far more in the future than it will help them now. We are ready and willing to work with elected officials — on both sides of the aisle — who would like to create an immigration system worthy of this great country. The GOP has begun the conversation. We hope it grows into a dialogue about how to do what their constituents elected them to do: Enact legislation that upholds our values and meets our needs.”

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