WASHINGTON, D.C. — On immigration, the Biden administration must bring Republicans and Democrats together to further the interests of all Americans.
That’s the overarching theme of the National Immigration Forum’s new Immigration Priorities for a Biden Administration.
“We believe these priorities have strong bipartisan support. They strike a balance between respecting the rule of law and demonstrating compassion for immigrants, and that’s what sets them apart,” said Ali Noorani, President & CEO of the National Immigration Forum. “Americans want solutions that benefit all of us, including essential immigrant workers, as we weather the pandemic and look forward to economic recovery together.”
Central principles include providing an opportunity for immigrants already contributing to and living in the U.S. to earn legal status, expanding opportunities for legal immigration in ways that benefit American workers and value all families, restoring compassion to our immigration process, providing effective border security and enforcing immigration laws sensibly.
Each theme includes priorities for the first 100 days of the Biden administration, but the focus is not only on the executive branch. “Sustainable immigration reform that doesn’t further divide our country can only occur if the effort is bipartisan,” the document emphasizes.
The election and the future of immigration in America are central themes of Leading the Way, the Forum’s virtual convening taking place next week. Republican and Democratic lawmakers as well as faith, business and other community leaders — 39 in all — will discuss strategies for practical, bipartisan reform and how to create a path forward in a polarized nation.