file_Enact_Immigration_Reform_for_a_Stronger_America

E nact Immigration Reform for a Stronger A merica A full and robust economic recovery that benefits $PHULFDÂśV ZRUNLQJ IDPLOLHV UHTXLUHV D VWURQJ IRXQGDWLRQ that cannot be built on a broken immigration system. As congressional leaders consider options to jump-start our QDWLRQÂśV struggling economy, they must recognize immigration reform as a critical step toward recovery.

From a moral and policy perspective, reforming immigration is imperative to fixing a system that tramples our values and fosters illegality and exploitation. Moreover, from an economic perspective, there is no question that an effective and sustained recovery requires smart policies that level the playing field for all workers, giving them a fair opportunity to contribute and earn a just return for their labor. But instead of facilitating recovery and improving conditions across the labor market, current immigration laws allow unscrupulous employers to depress wages, undermine working conditions for all workers, and perpetuate an illicit system that creates unfair disadvantages for honest employers.

Our country needs immigration reform that restores and maintains the rule of law, protects families and workers, and is consistHQW ZLWK RXU QDWLRQÂśV YDOXHV 5HDO UHIRUP PXVW Legalize unauthorized immigrants who are willing to come forward, undergo rigorous security checks, pay taxes, and learn English.

Implement smart enforcement measures that secure our nation, promote community safety, and uphold our constitution.

Address the future flow of workers through a mechanism that responds to our economic needs and upholds the wages, labor rights, and protections of the American workforce.

Preserve our commitment to family unity and make critical investments in policies that integrate immigrants into American society and the economy.

Immigration reform is necessary to achieve the full effect of policies designed to promote economic growth, boost employment, and enforce fair labor standards. And it would generate significant economic benefits. According to a report by the Center for American Progress and the Immigration Policy Center, legalization and regulation of future flows of workers would result in a $1.5 trillion increase in GDP over ten years, while current enforcementonly policies carry high costs and have little impact on stemming the flow of unauthorized migration.

In addition to the compelling economic rationale for immigration reform, action on this issue is politically smart.

The vast majority of Americans is in a much more pragmatic place than Congress has been on this issue and wants Congress to act. Recent polling shows that a strong majority believes passing reform in the context of the current economy is crucial and supports proposals that require unauthorized immigrants to become legal.

The social and economic costs of inaction on immigration are alarming. At a time when voters are exceedingly frustrated by partisan wrangling, immigration reform has drawn support from multiple sectors of society and leadership from both parties. It is time for members who have sat on the sidelines or played the politics of obstruction to respond to the American electorate and get the job done. )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ 1&/5ÂśV ZRUN RQ LPPLJUDWLRQ SOHDVH YLVLW www.nclr.org/immigrationreform.