Community Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act (S/1033,HR/2330) are comprehensive immigration reform bills that begin an earnest attempt to address our nation’s broken immigration system. I/We, the undersigned, welcome the opportunity represented by these bills to open pathways to normalcy for immigrants and community members whose hope for a stable, integrated society rests in creating a more fair, safe, and orderly immigration system.

We recognize that our current immigration system is not working. According to Congressional findings, “current immigration laws and the enforcement of such laws are ineffective and do not serve the people of the United States…Fixing the broken immigration system requires a comprehensive approach that provides for adequate legal channels for immigration and strong enforcement of immigration laws which will serve the economic, social, and security interests of the United States.” This legislation opens the door for further bi-partisan discussion on real comprehensive immigration reform that embraces a few simple principles–to create a path to citizenship for the undocumented workers our economy depends on, ensure workers rights, reunify families, restore civil liberties, protect refugees and asylees, and offer opportunities for safe future migration for hardworking immigrants and their families.

Support has been growing throughout Iowa and Nebraska for sensible reform of our national immigration laws. A truly comprehensive reform of immigration law which recognizes the value that immigrants bring to our society benefits all Americans. As demonstrated in recent polls, American citizens value their new neighbors for their work ethic and values of family, faith and community and that recognize our system has failed on all accounts to provide the necessary means by which many immigrant families can attain a sound legal status.