Here’s What Boundless Had to Say About the Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform – Boundless – Boundless
Boundless Immigration Inc. submits this statement for the record to provide the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship with data relevant to its February 11, 2021 hearing on The U.S. Immigration System: The Need for Bold Reforms.
Boundless is a Seattle-based technology company that empowers families to navigate the immigration system more confidently, rapidly, and affordably.
This statement includes sections on the following topics, with links to more detailed resources:
I. Our Family-Based Immigration System Too Often Keeps Families Apart
As part of his proposed immigration bill, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, President Biden calls for an overhaul of family-based immigration and an undoing of the Trump administrations systematic dismantling of the legal immigration system.
One of the most egregious policies enacted in recent years is the public charge rule, essentially an income test that makes it much harder for non-wealthy families to obtain green cards. The rule, now under review by the Biden administration, goes against our core American values of inclusion and equality of opportunity. In addition, the Trump-era Presidential Proclamation 10014 continues to ban entry by all family-based immigrants except for the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens, which we estimate is blocking 358,000 individuals per year. Such policies that work to keep families apart have no place here, a nation built on the contributions of immigrants.
President Biden has also proposed shortening lengthy green card wait times and increasing per-country green card caps. In some family-based visa categories, relatives are currently slated to wait more than 100 years to receive a green card, which means that many close family members of U.S. citizens will die before they are reunited with their families. We need to remove these unnecessary barriers to ensure that families can live and prosper together.
II. The Naturalization Backlog Negatively Impacts the U.S. Economy
The United States must streamline and simplify the naturalization process. Naturalization benefits the economy naturalized citizens earn 8-11% more annually than non-naturalized immigrants, and if half of all those eligible were to naturalize, the increased earnings could boost GDP by up to $52 billion a year. Currently, nearly 9 million immigrants qualify for U.S. citizenship, but the backlog in processing applications has left more than 700,000 green card holders in limbo. Although the coronavirus pandemic temporarily froze naturalization interviews and oath ceremonies, processing times were increasing long beforehand. It now takes U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) around 10 months on average to approve a citizenship application, more than double the processing time between 2012 and 2016.
III. Protecting Undocumented Immigrants from Deportation Delivers Major Economic and Civic Benefits
Since it was first launched in 2012, the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program has protected around 800,000 young people from deportation. The Trump administration repeatedly tried to eliminate the program, and barred first-time DACA applicants from applying. But late last year, the federal courts reinstated the program, and now President Biden proposes to create a pathway to citizenship not only for DACA recipients, but for all 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States.
Such bold reforms would deliver major economic and civic benefits. In 2017, DACA-eligible individuals and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders held $25.2 billion in spending power and contributed more than $5.5 billion in taxes. When people no longer fear deportation, they also tend to become more engaged and active in their communities, and feel a greater sense of belonging.
According to a recent Boundless report, nearly half the DACA recipients surveyed said they became more politically active after their application was approved, and 52% reported becoming more involved in their community. Their economic prospects also greatly improved prior to approval, only 45% of DACA recipients were employed compared to 88% who reported having a job after they were approved. In addition, their average annual earnings increased from $22,595 to $47,979 per year.
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Here's What Boundless Had to Say About the Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform - Boundless - Boundless
- Protestors take to the streets to call for immigration reform in Los Angeles - uscannenbergmedia.com - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Archbishop Prez on the Need for Balanced, Compassionate, and Comprehensive Immigration Reform - CatholicPhilly.com - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Bishops across US defend migrants, calling for immigration reform in justice and mercy - Our Sunday Visitor - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Project Red Card aims to ease concerns over Trump immigration reform in Latino communities - WCNC.com - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
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- Project Red Cards aims to ease concerns over Trump immigration reform in Latino communities - WCNC.com - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- David Reel: Addressing border security and immigration reform - Broad + Liberty - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- NMPF hoping for caution on immigration reform - Agri-News - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
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- Mann eager for immigration reform tied to border security, deportation, work permits - Kansas Reflector - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Rockford groups advocate for immigration reform ahead of Trump Administration - WREX.com - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
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- Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology Calls for Just and Humane Immigration Reform - Jesuits.org - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Idaho Sheriffs' Association calls for immigration reform and enforcement action - Idaho News - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Rep. Adam Gray looking forward to working with Trump on immigration reform - KTXL FOX 40 Sacramento - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Changing minds on immigration reform means changing voters priorities, not just their positions - LSE - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- USCCB issues Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform - Diocese of Raleigh - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- NWRA commentary: Comprehensive immigration reform could be legacy defining moment for the second Trump administration - Waste Today Magazine - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- An Immigration Reform Agenda for the 119th Congress - Federation for American Immigration Reform - December 25th, 2024 [December 25th, 2024]
- Immigration reform must end funding of states with sanctuary cities - Waterbury Republican American - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- YORK: Written off for dead, immigration reform could still live - The Albany Herald - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Floridas Impressive Effort to Stop Illegal Immigration Still Has One Item to Fix - Federation for American Immigration Reform - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Letter to the Editor | Trump's promised immigration reform won't happen - The Daily News - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Trump makes picks that he thinks will help his immigration reform plans - KENS5.com - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Hirono co-introduces immigration reform bill - Spectrum News - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- OPINION: Beyond walls and raids: A case for humane immigration reform - The Nevada Independent - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- OPINIONS: Redefining the American Dream: Why Immigration Reform Cant Wait - The Proxy Report - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- With control of White House and Congress, will Republicans pass immigration reform, repeal Obamacare? - Northeastern University - November 21st, 2024 [November 21st, 2024]
- ImmigrationProf Blog: Immigration Article of the Day: What Congress Needs to Break the Immigration Reform Stalemate by Maryam Stevenson - Law... - November 21st, 2024 [November 21st, 2024]
- US Catholic Bishops Call for Immigration Reform Emphasizing Fairness and Humanity - Mwakilishi.com - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Urgent immigration reform needed to protect migrant workers in the care sector, Work Rights Centre says - Electronic Immigration Network - November 14th, 2024 [November 14th, 2024]
- Tariffs, tax cuts, and immigration reform: Trump's blueprint for second term - The Business Standard - November 14th, 2024 [November 14th, 2024]
- With Immigration Reform on the Table, Advocates Put Human Face on Califs Migrant Farmworkers - San Diego Voice and Viewpoint - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- WHAT DID THE CANDIDATES SAY: Immigration reform on the City College Community Agenda, November 2024 - City Times - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- As a Latina Daughter of Immigrants, I'm Voting For Immigration Reform - POPSUGAR - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Immigration reform imperative to addressing workforce shortages in long-term care: speaker - McKnight's Senior Living - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Mi Familia Vota and SEIU rally for workers' rights and immigration reform in Nevada - News3LV - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- In the Age of Trump, the Business Lobby Has Strayed from Immigration Reform - ProPublica - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Race For IL-11: Evans On Immigration Reform, Hopes To Bring Back A "First Safe Country" Policy - WREX.com - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Another View: Baseball and immigration reform could be on a collision course - Marin Independent Journal - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Illegal Immigration Continued at Record Levels in FY 2024, Even as the Biden-Harris Administration Went to Great Lengths to Hide It - Federation for... - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Essex County greenhouse growers not impacted by immigration reform announced Thursday - CTV News Windsor - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- US Election 2024: Kamala Harris calls out Trump's fear-mongering tactics, accuses him of sabotaging immigration reform | Today News - Mint - October 21st, 2024 [October 21st, 2024]
- How immigration reform will supercharge the labor market, reduce national debt by over $600 billion in the next 2 decades: Research Affiliates CIO -... - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Harris calls for tougher border security, immigration reform in Arizona - The Hill - September 28th, 2024 [September 28th, 2024]
- Change Required: Immigration Reform is an Economic Necessity - Research Affiliates - Commentaries - Advisor Perspectives - September 28th, 2024 [September 28th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - KFVS - September 28th, 2024 [September 28th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - KCTV 5 - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - KSWO - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - WIS News 10 - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - KTRE - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - KNOE - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - KMVT - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - WTVM - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - WTOK - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - WAVE 3 - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
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- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - WAFB - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform one of several top focus areas in 2024 presidential election - KY3 - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Daily Minute: Horse racing returns; coalition calls for immigration reform; Northeast football makes comeback - Lincoln Journal Star - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform can start with repeal of the 3/10-year bar | Op-Ed - The Seattle Times - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Mother of Rachel Morin testifies before Congress in immigration reform hearing - CBS Baltimore - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- 'Immigration reform has to happen': Star chef Jos Andrs gets real about the politics of the moment - Fast Company - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Calls grow for Biden to prioritize immigration reform ahead of election: 'It's time' - WBBM - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Winning messages on public safety and immigration reform - ACLU Pennsylvania - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Immigration reform urgently needed to support migrant nurses and prevent exodus, Royal College of Nursing says - Electronic Immigration Network - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Former Atty. General John Ashcroft weighs in on immigration reform - The Sentinel - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Southern Az Rep. Ciscomani says comprehensive immigration reform not likely in Washington - TucsonSentinel.com - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Texas judge suspends Biden immigration reform policy - Avery Journal Times - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Century-old U.S. nativism keep immigration reform elusive. We have to stop it - NorthJersey.com - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- Latino evangelicals push for immigration reform ahead of election - Baptist News Global - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- Sen. Baldwin talks rural issues, immigration reform at Merrill Dairy Farm - WJFW-TV - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- Latino Evangelicals Push for Immigration Reform Ahead of Election - The Roys Report - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- PANEL: Impact of U.S. Immigration Policy on Black Americans - Immigration Blog - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Elizabeth Warren talks immigration reform at Kam Man Food in Quincy - AOL - June 8th, 2024 [June 8th, 2024]