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Immigration
I believe now is the time for responsible reform of our broken immigration system. For the countless men and women who lack legal status but contribute to our communities and our country, we should create the means to allow them to come out of the shadows but impose certain requirements of them including learning English and becoming citizens. With more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States and a range of industries heavily dependent on their services, this is not a problem that can be solved solely through tougher enforcement measures alone. We need a common-sense solution—one that provides a pathway to citizenship for those already in this country and a sensible guest worker program for those seeking to come here.
While I continue to press for a comprehensive set of reforms, I have also introduced legislation to specifically address some of our immigration system’s most egregious injustices. For example, the American Dream Act that I co-sponsored with Congressman Howard Berman offers a prudent solution to the challenges that undocumented students face in attempting to gain admission to our colleges and universities. The bill’s premise is simple: undocumented students should not be barred from maximizing their abilities and giving back to society. Indeed, we cannot afford to squander the investments that the nation has already made to educate these talented, motivated young people.
I have also introduced legislation to combat the widespread pattern of abuse in America’s immigrant detention system, the Immigration Fairness and Oversight Act. This bill will strengthen and codify existing detention standards, ensuring that unaccompanied detained children are treated compassionately and that every detainee has access to legal advice and the necessary medical care. My legislation will also bring robust oversight and new accountability to a system that for too long has escaped close scrutiny.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard's Immigration Legislation
The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act (H.R. 1215)
Provides all immigration detainees with basic minimum protections including access to medical care, phones, and legal representation by establishing legally enforceable immigration detention standards in place of the current system of non-binding and inconsistently applied guidelines. The measure also provides special protections for unaccompanied children and other particularly vulnerable detainees while expanding the use of cost-saving alternatives to detention.
- (October 1, 2010) Washington, D.C. - Advocacy Group Names Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and Other Top Leaders in Congress as Champions for Kids
- (February 25, 2010) Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Roybal-Allard to Department of Homeland Security: Reform Immigration Enforcement
- (December 17, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Revision of U.S. Asylum Policies Applauded
- (December 15, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Roybal-Allard Contributes Key Components to New Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
- (November 5, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Roybal-Allard Speaks Out on Behalf of Immigrant Children
- (November 3, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Op-Ed: Immigrant Detention Policy Reforms are Needed to Ensure the Humane Treatment of Immigrant Detainees
- (October 6, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Price, Roybal-Allard Applaud Reforms Proposed for Immigration Detention Centers
- (August 7, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Roybal-Allard Welcomes Detention Centers Reforms Announced by ICE
- (June 24, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Roybal-Allard Speaks at a Briefing Hosted by the Coalition for Immigrant Women's Rights
- (June 4, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Roybal-Allard Meets With Representatives from Immigrants Rights Groups to Discuss H.R. 1215
- (April 23, 2009) Washington, D.C. – A meeting with David Aguilar, Chief of U.S. Customs & Border Protection.
- (February 26, 2009) Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) Introduces Legislation to Ensure the Humane Treatment of Immigration Detainees
The American Dream Act (H.R. 1751)
Provides immigration relief to immigrant college students 21 years old or younger who have graduated from high school and have lived in the U.S. for at least five years. Lifts federal restrictions that prohibit states from providing in-state tuition to these students.
- (April 30, 2009) Washington, D.C. – Photo: The United Students of the Southeast Cities Advocate for the Dream Act.
- (March 26, 2009) Washington, D.C. - Introduction of the American Dream Act (HR 1751).
- (October 2, 2007) Washington, D.C. – Photo: Representatives with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) discuss the importance of passing the American Dream Act, among other initiatives impacting the Latino community.
- (May 18, 2007) Washington, D.C. – Photo: Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Chairwoman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, commend three undocumented immigrants for testifying before the subcommittee about the importance of passing the American Dream Act.
- (February 23, 2007) Downtown, Los Angeles – Photo: Los Angeles-area representatives of Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles met with the congresswoman to thank her for her steadfast advocacy on behalf of the American Dream Act.
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