Immigration
America is a country built by immigrants and our diverse backgrounds enrich our nation, grow the economy, and spur creativity and innovation. Congresswoman Lee believes it is long past time to fix our broken system by passing fair and comprehensive immigration reform.
Priorities:
• Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Congresswoman Lee believes we need a comprehensive plan that promotes equity, economic well-being, and long-term growth. The overwhelming majority of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country are active contributors to our communities, and as a nation of immigrants, we need to recognize and honor these contributions. She believes that any reform effort must be fair, preserve family unity, support the safety and economic prosperity of our communities, respect the dignity of immigrants, and most importantly, include a pathway to citizenship.
Congresswoman Lee is a strong supporter of Congressman Joe Garcia’s bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation, H.R. 15, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. This legislation would create jobs, bring millions of hardworking families out of the shadows, and reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades.
• Diversity Visa Program: Congresswoman Lee has long been a strong advocate for the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, and she will continue to fight to preserve this avenue for many aspiring immigrants. This program awards about half of its 50,000 annual visas to continental African immigrants, and is the vehicle for many African and Caribbean professionals to become legal permanent residents. The Diversity Immigrant Visa program creates the opportunity for immigrants from underrepresented countries to immigrate to the United States and live the American dream.
• Visas for Foreign Students: Congresswoman Lee also supports increasing the number of visas for foreign students who come to the United States to further their education, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. The United States is losing its investment in these bright students by educating them here in fields integral to the growth of our economy and then forcing them to return to their home countries.
Accomplishments:
• Advocating for Immigrant Communities: In Alameda County there are more than 450,000 residents who were born outside of the United States. These immigrants have made the East Bay what it is today: a richly diverse, innovative home to entrepreneurs, artists, and families. Representative Lee is committed to ensuring that these immigrants have a voice in Congress. She believes the federal government should focus its efforts on deporting violent criminals, not parents of small children who are here trying to make a better life for their families. She has opposed the policies and tactics of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, such as the use of intimidation and enforcement of arbitrary detention policies that split up families.
• Ending the Immigration and Travel Ban for Individuals Living with HIV: Congresswoman Lee was instrumental in ending the HIV ban on travel and immigration in January, 2010. The ban, which was first instated by President Reagan in 1987, relied upon outdated science to separate families and increase the stigma surrounding HIV. The repeal of the ban was an important and long overdue step towards fairness in immigration policy.
More on Immigration
Oakland, CA – Following President Obama’s announcement of expanded executive action on immigration reform, Congresswoman Lee released this statement:
“I applaud President Obama for this bold action to keep families together.
It has been more than 500 days since the Senate passed bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform and the House Republican leadership has refused to allow a vote on the legislation.
The time is now to act.
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined Congressman Gutiérrez (D-IL), Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and many of her House Democratic colleagues in calling for action to prevent American families from being torn apart by a broken immigration system.
“It has been more than 500 days since the Senate passed bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform.
This has resulted in more than 500 days of inaction by House Republican leadership. Enough is enough. Time has run out.
Why do we fight? Soldiers and Marines will have varied secondary answers: for national security, or a patriotic ideal, or even because your peers were enlisting. But there is another, overriding reason. You fight for those ahead of you or behind you on patrol, for the people in your squad or platoon, for the people who are fighting for—and protecting—you.
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee issued this statement following the passage of several extreme Republican anti-immigrant measures:
“I am shocked at the inhumanity and lack of consideration for vulnerable children that I saw this evening on the House floor.”
Washington, DC - In response to the growing crisis of unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement:
“I share the widespread concern over the surge of unaccompanied minors, principally from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, being apprehended and detained at the border.”
“This humanitarian crisis requires a comprehensive and timely response that puts the interests and safety of these children first.”
Oakland – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) marked the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Senate’s passage of bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform legislation (CIR) by calling on House Republicans to stop blocking the legislation from coming to a vote.
Members of Congress united with activist leaders, DREAMers, immigrant mothers and families on Thursday in Washington, D.C. to discuss the challenges facing those with immigration issues and their families.
Their goal was to encourage legislators to focus on the impact today's immigration policies have on women and children, a group strongly involved in said policy but seldom heard.
During the hearing, some important, yet lesser-known facts regarding immigration were shared.According to Andrea Mercado, campaign director for the National Domestic
WASHINGTON - President Obama, in his 2014 State of the Union speech here last night, defined narrowing of the unprecedented wealth gap in America as a major task facing the nation.
He delivered what was essentially a call for progressive approaches on a host of issues that he passionately argued were needed to keep alive the "American dream," while having to navigate through political channels heavily circumscribed by far-right Republican obstructionism.
"No one who works full time should have to live in poverty," he declared.
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) on Friday announced that CAPAC Members are fasting in support of the Fast for Families campaign.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined Fast for Families: A Call for Immigration Reform and Citizenship in a solidarity fast, where she will abstain from solid food for 24 hours to stand alongside immigration rights activists from the faith, business, advocacy, and human rights communities calling for comprehensive immigration reform.