Immigration Reform
HIAS advocates for immigration laws that are humane, enhance national security, and reflect our Jewish values. Our Jewish religious and ethical traditions and core American values call on us to “welcome the stranger.” The United States deserves an effective immigration system guided by the rule of law, the national interest, fairness, and compassion. Specifically, we want comprehensive legislation that:
- Keeps families united and decreases the waiting time for family re-unification.
- Creates pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
- Creates a plan for future migration flows in order to protect all workers' rights.
- Empowers immigrants to fully integrate by providing financial support to local governments and community organizations that offer classes and services.
- Establishes border protection and enforcement policies that bolster our national security, while balancing enforcement with economic development and human and civil rights.
Contact your Members of Congress about the urgency of immigration reform.
Learn about the current actions of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
Engage Your Community on Immigration
Get involved with We Were Strangers, Too: the Jewish Campaign for Immigration Reform.
Host an educational Welcome the Stranger event in your community.
Utilize our religious resources on immigration, including holiday guides and dvar torah.
What's New
Advocates Convene in Washington to Strategize about Immigration - On December 4th, HIAS will participate in the National Immigration Forum's national strategy session and advocacy day in Washington, DC. The event will feature a wide array of speakers from across the country and across the political spectrum, including Attorney General Mark Shurtleff of Utah, Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, Rich Stolz of One America, and Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform. Advocates from the faith, business, and law enforcement communities will strategize about how to prioritize immigration reform as the first legislative item in the 113th Congress. Learn more.
Updated DACA Numbers Released - In mid-November, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated statistics about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. New data shows that 300,000 requests for deferred action have been submitted and 53,273 individuals have been granted relief under this new policy. The new data does not indicate how many beneficiaries have received work permits under the program or whether any requests for deferred action had been denied. At the rate of processing applications, it is likely that more than 100,000 requests will be granted by USCIS by the end of the year. Learn more.
Senators Graham and Schumer Resume Talks on Immigration - In early November, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced that they will resume discussions about how to fix the U.S. immigration system. There has been a renewed focus in Washington on immigration reform in the wake of teh Presidential election, in which President Obama won 71% of the Hispanic vote. The Senators have said that their plan would include previously-discussed components such as biometric ID cards, border security, temporary worker programs, and a path to citizenship for certain eligible undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. Learn more.
Policy Resolutions
Community Statements and Sign-On Letters
Press Releases
Op-Eds