Immigration

Today there are over 35 million immigrants in the United States. Immigrants account for nearly 15 percent of our civilian work force. They will account for half of the working-age population growth between 2006 and 2015, and for all of the growth between 2016 and 2035. Immigrants will also contribute a net $2 trillion to our Social Security system by the year 2072. All immigrants deserve equal access to healthcare, higher education, financial services, and social services. We can only have a healthy nation when we bring those living in the shadows of life out to participate fully in the opportunities this great nation has to offer.

I also believe that our current immigration system needs reform. It does not meet our security or economic needs, and keeps families separated for long periods of time. Good reform will contribute to our national security, respond to worker shortages that remain a critical issue because of demographic, economic and education trends, and reunify families. I support reforms that would include permanent legal status for those who are living here, working hard, and paying taxes, reduce the backlog in family-based immigration, and decrease delays in business-based immigration.