The National Immigrant Justice Center and other supporters of fair and humane reform raised concerns regarding many of the bill's provisions. However, the bill offered an important step toward building a system to bring millions of immigrants forward to register and obtain legal status, a positive step for national security. Unfortunately, amendments adopted during Senate debate weakened the legalization program, making it less likely that individuals would come forward at all. Furthermore, the bill restructured the immigration system by significantly undermining family reunification.

The National Immigrant Justice Center was also concerned that the bill contained a number of troubling restrictions on fair treatment of immigrants, including provisions that would allow immigrants to be denied admission or deported based on the arbitrary suspicion of a government official, with no opportunity to rebut these allegations in court.

Although the Senate bill was in many ways flawed, it created momentum to fix our country's broken immigration system. Efforts by restrictionists to stall reform are a disservice to the millions of hardworking immigrants who wish to come out of the shadows and contribute fully to our society.  The National Immigrant Justice Center will continue to work with members of Congress to ensure that fair, comprehensive immigration reform becomes a reality.

For more information, please contact Tara Magner at (312) 660-1363 or Mary Meg McCarthy at (312) 660-1351.