Immigration

Legislation | Documents/Reports | Links | Press Releases

Our nation’s history is rooted in the strength of immigrants.  As New Yorkers, we have a special understanding of how America’s melting pot can create a rich tapestry of ethnic, cultural and religious traditions that infuse vitality into the economic and social aspects of our communities. Throughout my time in Congress, I have made immigration issues a priority, and I strongly believe that by protecting the rights of workers, securing the border, and modernizing our pathway to legal immigration, the hope that we can fix our broken system will become a reality.  I am proud to share with you several key pieces of legislation, all of which I am a cosponsor, that would provide a pathway to citizenship, keep families intact, create a level playing field, and improve our economy.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Last December, I was proud to join over 90 of my colleagues in Congress as an original cosponsor of H.R. 4321, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP Act). Securing the border, cracking down on employers who illegally hire, and requiring immigrants to register for legal status are all components of a comprehensive approach. A troubled economy makes it all the more important that we pursue immigration reform.  CIR addresses the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living on the margins of society and it will bring in critical revenue by integrating more people into the economy as workers, taxpayers, and consumers. 

Reuniting Families
As a cosponsor of the Reuniting Families Act, I believe that fixing our current family-based immigration system should be at the heart of immigration reform and I am very pleased that it has been included in the comprehensive bill.  I am committed to ending lengthy separations of loved ones by providing for the use of unused visas, reclassifying the spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents as immediate relatives, allowing gay and lesbian American citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor their permanent partners for immigration, raising the per-country limits on immigration, and allowing widows and orphans to remain eligible for a visa after the death of their sponsoring relative.

Dream Act
We must provide a path to legal immigration status for college-bound children who have lived most of their lives in this country.  Under H.R. 1751 the American Dream Act (which was included in CIR), qualified students would be eligible for temporary legal immigration status upon high school graduation that would then lead to permanent legal residency if they go to college or serve in the military.  H.R 1751 also eliminates a federal provision that discourages states from providing in-state college tuition to immigrant students who have long resided in their states.  We cannot deny these students the opportunity to pursue education—especially when the alternative is often working illegally.  I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important legislation.

H.R. 5193 StartUp Visa Act of 2010
The entrepreneurial spirit is ingrained in our country’s history and success.  In April, I introduced legislation that permits immigrant entrepreneurs greater access to American visas.  H.R. 5193, the StartUp Visa Act of 2010 allows an immigrant entrepreneur to receive a two year visa if he or she can show that a qualified U.S. investor is willing to dedicate a significant sum to the immigrant’s startup venture (a minimum of $250,000).  Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar introduced bipartisan, companion legislation in the Senate, S. 3029. 

Currently, the EB-5 category visa permits foreign nationals to obtain a green card if their efforts invest at least $1 million into the U.S. economy and create at least 10 jobs.  H.R. 5193 creates a new EB-6 visa for immigrant entrepreneurs.  After proving that he or she has secured initial investment capital (totaling at least $250,000) and if, after two years, the immigrant entrepreneur can show that he or she has generated at least five full-time jobs in the United States, attracted $1 million in additional investment capitol or achieved $1 million in revenue, then he or she would receive permanent legal resident status. I believe that this legislation is a vital component of job creation and promoting America’s global competitiveness.

Legislation

03/16/2011 - StartUp Visa Act of 2011 [112th Congress]

06/08/10 - Cosponsor of H.Res. 1398 – Recognizing the contributions of university and college immigrant assistance programs

04/29/10 - Introduced H.R. 5193 – StartUp Visa Act of 2010

12/15/09 - Original Cosponsor of H.R. 4321 – Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of 2009

07/13/09 - Cosponsor of H.R. 1215 – Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act

07/08/09 - Cosponsor of H.R. 2363 – Proud to Be an American Citizen Act

06/23/09 - Cosponsor of H.R. 1751 – American Dream Act

06/04/09 - Cosponsored of H.R. 2709 – Reuniting Families Act

Documents

 Key Votes - Rep. Maloney's Key Votes on Immigration

01/14/10 - Letter to President Obama requesting that the Administration designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status in the wake of Port-au-Prince earthquake

09/21/09 - Letter to President Obama expressing support for fair and humane comprehensive reform

More on Immigration

Nov 20, 2014 Press Release

NEW YORK – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) today released the following statement in reaction to President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration:

“It has been 511 days since the Senate passed a bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. House Republicans haven’t allowed a vote, and haven’t proposed an alternative. Where they have failed, the President has acted just as Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush did.

Oct 8, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – On the Global Day of Action for immigration reform, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) called on the House majority to take up a comprehensive immigration reform bill, H.R. 15, the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act”  to fix our broken immigration system. Rep. Maloney is an original cosponsor of H.R. 15.

Sep 24, 2013 Press Release

Washington, D.C.  – Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) led two letters that were sent today to House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both of which express support for extending the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to Poland as a provision of any reform package in the House.

Jun 27, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) today issued the following statement after Senate passage of S. 744, comprehensive immigration reform, by a vote of 68 to 32:
 

Jun 19, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), ranking House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, issued the following statement after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued its scoring of the comprehensive immigration reform package currently being considered in the U.S. Senate. The CBO estimates the bill will result in $175 billion in net deficit reduction through 2023.
 

Feb 13, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)  reintroduced legislation in both the Senate and House to allow certain Indonesian refugees to reopen claims for asylum.  Many Indonesian Christians who fled their native country to avoid religious persecution are now faced with deportation after years of living, working, and paying taxes in the U.S.  The legislation introduced today would provide a legal avenue for these individuals to reapply for asylum in the U.S.

Jul 3, 2012 Press Release

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) joined House colleague Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and 11 other House Members in writing to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton urging ICE to re-evaluate its current policy toward deporting a number of Indonesian refugees back to their homeland despite credible claims about the religious persecution they suffered in Indonesia because of their Christian faith. Under ICE’s current policy, the Indonesian Christian refugees are to be deported back to a life of oppression, including an inability to obtain work permits, the burning and closing of their churches, and the threat of up to five years of prison time upon arrival. 

Apr 6, 2012 Press Release

Highland Park, New Jersey - Today on Good Friday, U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) visited with Indonesian Christians who came to America to escape severe religious persecution, and who are fighting a deportation order by seeking sanctuary at the Reformed Church of Highland Park in central New Jersey. She was scheduled to be joined on the visit by her House colleague, Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ).

Jan 23, 2012 Press Release

Long Island City, NY – On Friday, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Queens, Manhattan) joined U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas, New York District Director Andrea Quarantillo, Commissioner Fatima Shama of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Assemblywoman Grace Meng, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, Councilman Daniel Dromm, and Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras at the opening of the new USCIS office in Long Island City – the first facility of its kind in New York City outside of Manhattan. 

Dec 7, 2011 Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced legislation, the Indonesian Family Refugee Protection Act (HR 3590), that would give Indonesian citizens fleeing religious persecution an opportunity to reopen asylum claims that were denied solely for missing the one-year filing deadline for asylum in the U.S.. The legislation would allow these Indonesian citizens, many of whom arrived during a five-year timeframe (January 1, 1997 – November 30, 2002), the opportunity to reopen their claims during the two-year period following enactment.
 

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