Immigration

As a first-generation American, Rep. Eshoo has a deep appreciation for the broad ethnic mosaic that makes America a great country. She has promoted sound immigration policies to provide opportunities for people to immigrate legally into the country, voted to secure national borders, and create a pathway to citizenship for those who were brought into the country as children.

Protecting Dreamers

Rep. Eshoo has consistently advocated for providing relief from deportation and a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers,” the more than 800,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. She has cosponsored and voted for the American Dream and Promise Act which ensures these young immigrants can remain in the only country they’ve ever known. The bill provides Dreamers with ten years of legal status and work authorization. During that time, they must pursue higher education, serve in the military, or work lawfully for at least three years. Those who meet these conditions will be granted permanent residency and the ability to one day become U.S. citizens.

High-Skilled Immigration

California’s 18th Congressional District, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is home to many immigrants who have led the world in developing breakthrough technologies that shape society and drive economic growth. In fact, more than half of all billion-dollar technology startups in the U.S. were founded by immigrants. It is in the national interest to ensure that immigration laws encourage talented people from around the world to come to the United States to conduct research, develop groundbreaking technologies, and launch innovative businesses. This includes eliminating visa backlogs and processing delays that deter immigrants from bringing their talents to the United States.

Rep. Eshoo is proud to be a cosponsor of the Jumpstart Act, comprehensive legislation to make the legal immigration system more efficient. Importantly, the bill recaptures unused immigrant visas from 1992 to 2021, making more than 400,000 visas available to be issued. The legislation also allows immigrants who are in the U.S. and eligible for a green card to receive work authorization while they wait for a green card to become available. These provisions would significantly reduce visa backlogs and ensure that those waiting for a visa can continue to work.