Immigration

The United States has always been a nation of immigrants. It’s essential that our immigration policies reflect this country’s rich history of diversity and the countless contributions that immigrants have and continue to make. History tells us that comprehensive immigration reform raises wages, creates jobs, and generates additional tax revenue. That’s why I will continue to work towards pragmatic solutions that reform our broken immigration system, keep our borders secure, and provide a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants currently living in the shadows. 

I believe we can and should create a twenty-first century immigration system that will stimulate jobs, enhance global competitiveness, and help to grow a highly skilled U.S. workforce. I am a strong supporter of President Obama’s Immigration Accountability Execution Actions, which work to improve our broken immigration system and prevent the separation of families and the unnecessary deportation of millions of members of our community. I have fought tirelessly to enact more humane deportation and detention policies, to improve standards and conditions at immigration detention centers, and to protect the legal rights of undocumented immigrants. I also support refugee resettlement, policies and efforts to end the costly and arbitrary immigration detention bed quotas and the unnecessary detention of children and families. I have introduced legislation that will increase high skilled visas so that America can continue to attract the world’s best and brightest. And I continue to push for an expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) through the JOLT Act, which will increase tourism and bolster our economy by allowing citizens of selected countries, including Poland, that meet strict U.S. security standards to travel to the U.S. for 90 days without a U.S. visa.    

America’s strength as a nation is being jeopardized by a broken immigration system that is tearing families apart, disrupting our workforce and draining our resources. Our nation was built by immigrants. That proud tradition, which helped the United States to become the most prosperous nation in the world, is more important now than ever before. 

Rep. Mike Quigley helped introduce the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act, which ensures children in immigration proceedings have access to legal counsel.

Rep. Mike Quigley secured $1 million in the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act for the creation of legal information help desks at our nation’s immigration courts.

Rep. Mike Quigley offered an amendment to the FY2016 Homeland Security appropriations bill that would prohibit the detention of immigrant children and families in detention centers.