Immigration Reform

We are a nation of immigrants and our immigration system has contributed to the greatness of the United States. However, we can all agree that our nation’s immigration system is broken.

The way for Congress to remedy this problem is to methodically look at each of the various components that need to be fixed and take any final bill through the traditional legislative process. Immigration reform is too important and complex to not examine each piece in detail.

The House Judiciary Committee, which I chair, has held numerous hearings on our immigration laws, and we have already passed several stand-alone bills that address particular issues, like enforcement of immigration laws and guestworker programs, within our immigration system.

As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, I have strongly advocated for immigration reform that focuses on enforcement and upholding the rule of law, including elimination of enforcement waivers that have been abused by previous and current Administrations.  To be clear, any immigration reform proposal must first guarantee that our immigration laws are enforced both at the border and within the United States.  I remain opposed to amnesty, as I always have been.  I do not support a special pathway to citizenship that rewards those who have broken our immigration laws.

Immigration reform is not an easy task, yet a solution is not out of reach. By taking a methodical approach to these issues, it will help us craft better legislation that will benefit Americans and provide a workable immigration system. This will ensure we get immigration reform right this time so that we don’t have the same problems in the future.

Actions

• The House Judiciary Committee, which I chair, has jurisdiction over our nation's immigration laws. The Committee has been working to thoroughly examine each aspect of our immigration laws.

• I introduced the Agricultural Guestworker “AG” Act (H.R. 1773) to provide American farmers with a workable temporary agricultural guestworker program that will help provide access to a reliable workforce.

• Because the federal government has been grossly inadequate in the internal enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws, I am an original cosponsor of the SAFE Act (H.R. 2278), which allows state and local law enforcement to aid in the enforcement of these laws.

• I am an original cosponsor of the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772), which would make the E-Verify system mandatory for employers.  I believe it is important for businesses to hire only those eligible to work in the U.S., not illegal aliens, and to have tools available to determine employment eligibility quickly.  That is why I support efforts – like E-verify – to require employers to verify the legal status and work eligibility of employees. This will also ensure that qualified U.S. workers are not displaced by illegal workers.

• I am an original cosponsor of the SKILLS Visa Act (H.R. 2131), which provides American employers with access to the world’s best talent by allocating green cards to foreign graduates of U.S. universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, increasing H-1B visas, and repealing the employment-based per-country cap. This legislation will help to spur job creation, economic growth, and American competitiveness by increasing and improving high-skilled immigration programs.

• I am a Member of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, which is dedicated to the strong enforcement of our immigration laws and the protection of our border. 

ICYMI: Top 10 Concerns with the Senate Immigration Bill