Polis Joins Democratic Colleagues in Introducing Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation

Press Release

Today, Congressman Jared Polis joined Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Joe Garcia, Congressman Stephen Horsford, and Congresswoman Suzanne Delbene in introducing comprehensive legislation to reform our immigrations system. H.R. 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act would improve our border security while including a pathway to citizenship and ultimately improving our economy.

"During a shutdown caused by partisan bickering, now more than ever we need to work together for common sense solutions to immigration. We can no longer afford to ignore Americans from across the political spectrum calling out for Congress to fix our broken immigration system - from the business community, to faith groups, to farm workers and high-tech companies. We need immigration laws and enforcement that work," Congressman Polis stated. "I am proud to sponsor this bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill with policies that enjoy support from both Democrats and Republicans. The time is now for Congress to pass an immigration reform bill that creates American jobs, ensures we are more competitive in an increasingly global economy, restores the rule of law, lowers the deficit and reflects our values as Americans."

"Ahora -- durante el cierre del Gobierno provocado por pleitos partidistas -- más que nunca tenemos que trabajar juntos para descubrir soluciones de sentido común para la inmigración. Ya no podemos seguir ignorando los clamores de Americanos que se escuchan en la gama política -- desde el empresariado a grupos religiosos, trabajadores en la agricultura a empresas de alta tecnología -- de la necesidad de aprobar la reforma migratoria. Necesitamos leyes y ejecución que funcionan bien," Congressman Polis dijo. "Es un orgullo para mí patrocinar esta propuesta para la reforma migratoria amplia e incluyente, con políticas que cuenta con la aprobación por parte de los Demócratas, así como de los Republicanos. El momento ha llegado para que el Congreso apruebe un proyecto de ley para la reforma migratoria, que crea puestos de trabajo aquí en Estados Unidos, que nos asegure la competitividad dentro de la economía global, que restaura el imperio de la ley, que disminuya el déficit y que refleje nuestros valores como Americanos."

Since he has been in Congress, Congressman Polis has been a leader in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform to fix our badly broken immigration system in a way that will include a pathway to citizenship, create millions of new American jobs, lower our deficit by billions and pave the way for a new American economic boom. Congressman Polis is a co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition Immigration Taskforce as well as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus' Equal Protection Taskforce.

A brief summary of the legislation follows:

H.R. 15, BORDER SECURITY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND IMMIGRATION MODERNIZATION ACT

Pre-Title and Title I: Border Security

Title one of the bill and its preamble address issues of border security. It establishes the security goals that must be achieved within 5 years, including "operational control" (90% illegal border crossing effectiveness rate) of high traffic areas and of the southwest border. Metrics are established to measure illegal border crossing prevention, drug seizures, and other data. 3,500 additional CBP officers will be hired. A plan to implement an entry-exit system must be submitted. The title provides an alternate border security plan that includes required "triggers," or goals that must be met, before the bill's legalization plan can be implemented.

Title II: Immigrant Visas

This title addresses permanent legal status in the United States. It creates a Registered Provisional Immigrant program for undocumented immigrants that allows them to apply for citizenship in 13 years, after paying taxes and penalties, passing criminal and security background checks, and maintaining employment. Shorter paths to citizenship are provided for DREAMers (undocumented young people brought to the U.S. as children) and for agricultural workers, with similar fees and security checks. This title also provides sufficient visas to erase the current backlog of family and employment-based visa applicants in the next 7 years, ensuring that no undocumented immigrant obtains permanent resident status before others in line. The bill increases the number of immigrant visas, increases visas for highly skilled workers in technical fields, eliminates or changes some family-based immigration programs, and creates a new merit-based system that is based on points accrued through education, employment, and family ties. A "W" visa is created for agricultural workers that is easier for U.S. employers to use and contains important protections for immigrant workers and U.S. workers.

Title III: Interior Enforcement

This title addresses DHS's ability to enforce immigration laws while correcting procedural problems. Central to Title III is a phased in E-Verify employment eligibility verification program that will be mandatory for all employers in 5 years. Employers that hire unauthorized immigrants are subject to increased fines and criminal penalties. The bill also addresses important refugee and asylum issues, enhances due-process protections in the immigration courts, increases the oversight of detention facilities, and tPolis Joins Democratic Colleagues in Introducing Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
oughens penalties for gang-related convictions and other criminal offenses, such as drunk driving.

Title IV: Reforms to Nonimmigrant Visa Programs

This title reforms the nonimmigrant visa programs for skilled workers and creates new programs for less-skilled workers, investors, and visitors. The visa cap on the H-1B skilled-worker program is raised while worker wages and job protections are increased. A "W" nonimmigrant visa for non-agricultural less-skilled workers is created that is easier for employers to use and contains important worker protections. A new nonimmigrant investor visa and an immigrant investor visa are also created to encourage foreign investment.

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