Immigration

Allow law-abiding adult undocumented immigrants who have been here more than five years a pathway to permanent residency, but not citizenship. They must pay a large fine, pass a background check, and be working or enrolled in school in order to apply to be a permanent resident. This pathway is laid out in the bipartisan DIGNITY Act. 

Allow Dreamers, who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, to apply to be permanent residents if they pass a background check, have never been convicted of a felony, have earned a high school diploma, and meet other criteria. This pathway is laid out in the Bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act. After five years of permanent residency, allow them to apply for citizenship.  

Increase the number of available work visas and expand job-based pathways to citizenship.  

Ensure that international students who are educated in the U.S. and pass a background check, have a path to staying here in order to use their American education to benefit our economy.   

Increase trade and economic cooperation with Central and South America to keep our neighbors from turning to China and Russia. Improve economic opportunities in our neighboring countries to allow people to seek new jobs in their own countries.   

Increase law enforcement’s targeting of cartels and criminal organizations, who are responsible for drug and human trafficking across our borders. Work with the Department of State, international nonprofits, and local authorities to disrupt the flow of drugs and illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances.  

Fully enforce immigration laws to ensure those convicted of violent crimes are removed quickly.  

Upgrade border security technology, including radar surveillance, drones, and communication systems. In strategic locations, upgrade the fencing and other physical barriers.   

Provide enough funding to ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the increased number of Border Patrol officers needed to fully secure the border, as well as to increase the number of officers at ports of entry. 

Require employers to use tools like E-Verify to confirm they’re only hiring workers with are eligible to work in the United States. 

Hire additional immigration judges and staff to clear the backlog of asylum cases.  

Establish new processing centers in Latin America to allow asylum-seekers to apply for asylum from outside the United States. This way they can be processed for lawful entry into the United States, Canada, Spain and other participating nations before arriving at our border.