Immigration
As immigration patterns change over time, Congress must review our immigration policies to ensure that they meet our evolving needs as a nation, allow us to regulate traffic across our borders, and add to the rich diversity of our nation.
I strongly believe we should streamline legal immigration and promote naturalization for those who qualify, including parents of U.S. citizens, young people who have been in the U.S. for at least five years, and students and entrepreneurs, while also keeping families together who have lived in the United States for years.
It is well past time that we re-examine our immigration process to ensure that those who want to immigrate legally have the opportunity to do so, while protecting the rights of American workers, defending our national security, and enforcing the laws that are already in place.
Keep posted to this page for updates on this critical issue.
More on Immigration
Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has submitted official comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposed public charge rule. Today is the last day to submit public comments on the proposal, which would impose new obstacles on those who wish to come to the United States legally or seek legal permanent resident, so-called “green card”, status.
Portland, Maine—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has cosponsored a bill introduced by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) to block funding for implementation of the Trump Administration’s proposed public charge rule.
Washington, D.C.—During markup today of the FY19 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, the House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) cosponsored with Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) to make more H-2B visas available, a critical source of seasonal workers in Maine.
Video of Pingree speaking in support of the amendment and discussing the shortage of labor for Maine’s seasonal businesses:
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Congresswoman Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today introduced legislation to narrow the broad zone of DHS authority in the vicinity of U.S. borders. Under current regulations, the Department of Homeland Security has wide latitude to conduct traffic stops and warrantless property searches within 100 miles of the U.S. border. Two out of every three Americans live within this border enforcement zone.
Washington D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on H.R. 6136, the immigration bill known as “Goodlatte 2” which failed in the House today.
Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after Republicans cancelled today’s scheduled Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bill. The legislation includes funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which has been charged with caring for children separated from their families at the border due to President Trump’s zero tolerance policy.
WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after visiting the Port Isabel ICE detention center that the Trump Administration has said will be the primary center for reunifying parents and children separated at the border. Photo of Pingree in front of the building.
WASHINGTON,DC—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and nearly 60 other female members of Congress have jointly written to President Trump’s Secretaries of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to request answers as to the whereabouts, conditions of care, and lack of transparency surrounding the girls and babies who are among the 2,000 children who’ve been separated from their families by his zero-tolerance immigration policy.
Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on two immigration bills the House is scheduled to vote on today.
“Much like President Trump’s hateful and racist rhetoric about immigrants, both of these bill are offensive to American values. Neither of them are ‘moderate’—both dehumanize and degrade those seeking safety and security in the United States, worsening the suffering of real people to score political points.