Legislation
Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the 112th Congress
The Issue
Our immigration system is broken. There are an estimated 10 - 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Most have lived here for many years, contributing to our economy while providing a better life for their family. We rely on them as workers, but we have not provided them with legal status to work. Our admissions system has not been updated in more than 20 years, and it has become so out of line with today’s realities that some immigrants must wait a decade or more to reunite with close family members. Border and enforcement resources are wasted in pursuit of immigrant workers, when they could be better spent if focused on criminals, violent drug smugglers, national security threats, and unscrupulous employers taking advantage of an exploitable workforce.
The Legislation
- Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011
S. 1258, introduced by Senator Robert Menendez and seven other co-sponsors. Among other things, the bill provides a program for legalizing undocumented immigrants, updates the family-based and employment-based immigration admissions systems, contains the DREAM Act and AgJOBS legislation, and provides resources for the integration of immigrants into our society. (List of co-sponsors.)
Status
The bill was introduced on June 22, 2011.
For More Information
- Issue Brief: America’s Immigration System Undermines Competitiveness, National Immigration Forum, November, 2011.
- Issue Brief: America’s Immigration System must be Reformed: An Overview, National Immigration Forum, September 2011.
- Issue Brief: America Needs a Functioning Immigration System that Serves the Needs of America, National Immigration Forum, September 2011.
- Backgrounder: Comprehensive Reform of Our Immigration Laws, National Immigration Forum, September 2008.
- Backgrounder: Immigration Backlogs are Separating American Families, National Immigration Forum, January 2007.
Web sites
Following are a few Web sites where you can get information on immigration reform from a variety of viewpoints.
- Americas Voice
- Center for American Progress
- Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
- Compete America
- Immigration Policy Center
- Immigration Works
- Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Service Employees International Union
- Reform Immigration FOR America
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Issue Briefs and Reports from the Forum
Additional Resources
