- Advocacy
Testifying on the Positive Economic Contributions of Immigrants in the U.S. and the American Immigrant Workforce
Published
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, our Policy Director, testified before Congress to explain the positive economic contributions of immigrants in the U.S. and the ongoing challenge that the U.S. faces addressing the underfunded and outdated humanitarian protection system.
The testimony explains:
- The positive economic impact of all immigrants, including refugees, undocumented immigrants, TPS beneficiaries, and their families.
- The need for a faster way for immigrants to access work authorization so that they can join the workforce and support themselves quickly.
- The ways in which our 20th century asylum system act as a barrier to migrant self-sufficiency.
- Mismatched spending priorities, which neglect immigration adjudication in favor of immigration enforcement, have created extensive backlogs.
The testimony concludes that Congress' failure to provide adequate resources to our humanitarian adjudication systems and to support local communities has impeded economic growth and imposed unnecessary fiscal costs. Ultimately, Congress has the power to change the situation at the border by updating our immigration laws and providing the necessary resources to fund a modern humanitarian protection system.
Watch Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council testify before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee
Help us fight for immigration justice!
The research is clear – immigrants are more likely to win their cases with a lawyer by their side. But very few can get attorneys.
Introducing the Immigration Justice Campaign Access Fund.
Your support sends attorneys, provides interpreters, and delivers justice.
Immigration Justice Campaign is an initiative of American Immigration Council and American Immigration Lawyers Association. The mission is to increase free legal services for immigrants navigating our complicated immigration system and leverage the voices and experiences of those most directly impacted by our country’s immigration policies to inform legal and advocacy strategies. We bring together a broad network of volunteers who provide legal assistance and advocate for due process for immigrants with a humane approach that includes universal legal representation and other community-based support for individuals during their immigration cases.