Reforming the Broken Immigration System
America was built by immigrants. Jamie had the honor of working on federal immigration policy with two of Massachusetts’ greatest leaders: Senator Ted Kennedy and Congressman Joe Moakley. Our country has not seen real immigration reform in over two decades. It is long overdue. Jamie will fight for common sense legislation that honors people’s desire to work, to be with family, to find safe haven in this country, and help continue to build this nation, just as Jamie’s family did three generations ago.
Address the Backlog of Pending Cases
Immediate family, permanent resident, and citizenship applications are sitting at four processing facilities across the U.S., waiting to be reviewed. Timelines for dealing with these cases can last anywhere to 20 years from three months. The U.S. should not outsource these processes to third party contractors. We need to have a dedicated team of workers, with clear legal guidance that prioritizes keeping families together, to move this caseload.
Streamline the Process for U.S. Companies
Improve the speed and cost, which can reach twenty thousand dollars per employee, for companies who want to hire highly skilled labor from other countries.
Ensure the effectiveness of training programs, which are funded by these corporate fees, for American workers.
Create Permanent Residency Pathways
Congress must establish pathways for individuals who have temporary and/or pending legal status. We should never threaten people who are here under temporary protected status (TPS) with deportation when their countries of origin remain unstable. And, Congress has to push for the implementation of the DREAMERS Act. It is unconscionable to consider exiling young people to countries they have never known when they have been raised here and want to be American citizens.
Create a World-Class, Humane, and Technology-Enabled Border Entry System
We should provide prompt adjudication of individuals seeking entry or asylum in the United States. From there, we should enable immediate processing of work authorizations, temporary social security numbers, and immigration status. We should prioritize the implementation of sophisticated data systems that ensure the greatest measure of safety for our country.
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