As a 72-year old humanitarian organization representing 37 Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox communions and 22 refugee resettlement offices across the country, Church World Service (CWS) urges all Senators to reject the Immigration Security and Opportunity Act, amendment #1958 filed by Senator Schumer (D-NY). This amendment, brokered by Senators Rounds (R-SD), Collins (R-ME), King (I-ME), and Kaine (D-VA), would leave out thousands of dreamers, keep greencard holders from sponsoring their adult children, and harm border communities. As communities of faith, we urge the Senate to enact a real solution for dreamers with a pathway to citizenship for the whole dreamer population, affirm the importance of family reunification, and protect border communities, such as the Dream Act (S.1615) or a narrow solution that pairs the Dream Act with accountable border technology, such as the Coons-McCain amendment #1955 based on the bipartisan USA Act (S.2367). The USA Act is a compromise solution that is narrowly tailored to offer dreamers a pathway to citizenship, while integrating a data-driven approach to border security that includes consultation with border communities.
The Immigration Security and Opportunity Act would offer permanent protection to dreamers who entered the United States before they were 18 years old, have been continuously present in the United States since, and were under the age of 38 as of June 15, 2012. While CWS affirms that the majority of the dreamer population would have the opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship, thousands will be left out of a solution due to these provisions. This amendment would also cruelly bar parents of dreamers from stabilizing their status.
This amendment would also redefine family and invalidate our country’s claim to honor family values, by prohibiting lawful permanent residents (LPRs) from sponsoring their children over 21 years of age. Already, family-based visas are very limited, and backlogs of family visas can be as long as 23 years. A U.S. citizen can only sponsor their spouse, child, parent, and sibling; and a green card holder can only sponsor their spouse and child. A parent’s desire to be with their children is real, regardless of age, and the government should not prolong family separation or crush the dreams of those who have waited years and even decades to be reunited with their children. Family unity is vital to our society. Being able to see your family members, hold your children, and live with your family are the most basic of family values. We know that when families are in the U.S. together, they invest in the U.S. rather than dividing income and attention to send remittances and worrying about their family’s well-being overseas.
This amendment would also add $25 billion over a 10-year period for border security and significantly expand the scope of individuals targeted for immigration enforcement, including anyone unlawfully present who arrived in the United States after June 30, 2018. The United States already has robust border security measures in place, spending more than $18 billion on immigration enforcement every year, more than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. This includes drones, mobile surveillance systems, video surveillance towers, 11,000 underground sensors, 700 miles of fencing, Blackhawk helicopters, and 18,127 border patrol agents at the southern border alone. While smart, strategic investments can be helpful, billions of new dollars and a wall are irresponsible and a waste of taxpayer dollars. The southern border region is home to 15 million people, parklands, natural monuments and sacred lands, and a bustling economy. Any legislation should represent a common-sense, data-driven approach to the border that includes consultation with local stakeholders while providing a pathway to citizenship for dreamers, as is the approach of the bipartisan USA Act (S.2367).
CWS urges all Senators to oppose the Immigration Security and Opportunity Act, Schumer amendment #1958 to H.R.2579 and to instead support the USA Act, Coons-McCain amendment #1955. Let us uphold our faithful call to love our neighbors and pass a solution that affirms the importance of family reunification, offers a pathway to citizenship for all dreamers without compromising their families, and protects border communities.