Immigration

Our economy relies on immigrants. In the last 15 years immigrants have contributed $124 billion to our economy and were key to the U.S. economy post-pandemic rebound. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has predicted that if immigrants enter the country at the rate that they now, immigrants will contribute $7 trillion to the U.S. economy.

Our Position

We strive for an immigration system that values the basic dignity and human rights of all people with policies that uphold the right to seek asylum, remove barriers to citizenship, and promote and support welcoming communities across the U.S.

Issues

NETWORK Advocates for Federal Policies That:

Remove Racism in immigration

Racism in immigration policy persists. Black asylum seekers in the U.S. are expelled and deported without due process. When allowed to remain, Black and Brown immigrants face racially-motivated obstacles to care, transportation, and other basic needs.

Protect the rights and safety of people migrating to the U.S.

Federal action must be consistent with the fundamental right of families and individuals to safely seek asylum in the U.S. fairly and safely. Will bills or executive actions:

End militarization policies by ending investments in deterrence and military weapons and tactics that criminalize people seeking safety.
Protect continued residence in the U.S. in the face of court challenges
- Persons in the U.S. from countries designated in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, many of whom have resided in the U.S. for decades.
- Young people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
- Immigrants who have received humanitarian parole.

Provide reasonable pathways to citizenship for people living in the U.S. with temporary status

How You Can Help

Nothing at this time. Make sure you are signed up for our emails to received the latest policy updates.

Our Wins

The Biden Administration expanded the scope of humanitarian parole to allow legal entry for many immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Ukraine who have a financial sponsor and meet other criteria.
The FY 24 budget provided funds for the Shelter and Services Program to support welcoming communities and help cities and states meet the needs of newly arrived people.
The Biden Administration has issued needed regulations to:
- Overturn Trump Administration regulations that punished eligible immigrants for receiving federal benefits for which they were legally entitled (the “public charge” rule).
- Provide protections for temporary migrant workers, especially farmworkers, and accountability measures for employers who violate their rights
The Biden Administration expanded access to healthcare to over 600,000 DACA recipients
The Biden Administration has granted or renewed Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 670,000 immigrants in the U.S. from 17 countries that are deemed unsafe because of violence or natural disasters.