State Legislators for Progressive Immigration Policy

State Legislators for Progressive Immigration Policy (SLPIP) is committed to supporting policies at the state and federal level including comprehensive immigration reform that reflect our core values as a nation, such as promoting basic democratic principles and recognizing the contributions of all communities to our nation. We believe in policies that bring all Americans together and reject policies that scapegoat our most vulnerable communities.

Please sign onto the following principles, which articulate how immigrants strengthen our communities and grow the economy.

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State Legislators for Progressive Immigration Policy (SLPIP) is committed to supporting policies at the state and federal level including comprehensive immigration reform that reflect our core values as a nation, such as promoting basic democratic principles and recognizing the contributions of all communities to our nation. We believe in policies that bring all Americans together and reject policies that scapegoat our most vulnerable communities.

At the state level, instead of policies that will drive newcomers to our country further underground and encourage abuse and exploitation, we support policies to better integrate immigrants into a community of greater shared prosperity and higher living standards for all.

• Immigrants have contributed to America’s rich history and are a part of the fabric of our society. Our communities are richer when we give new immigrants the opportunity to contribute and participate fully in our society, through programs such as English language instruction, access to higher education and support during the naturalization process.
• For America to be a land of opportunity for all, our policies must recognize our common human rights and shared responsibilities. Our focus should be on raising wage standards for all workers and ending illegal economic exploitation across the economy, not punishing a small subset of immigrant workers.
• Community policing and outreach to all communities are key to strengthening the safety of all of our families. No members of our community should be fearful of reporting crimes or aiding the investigations of the police.
• Immigrant entrepreneurs and workers pay taxes and create jobs, businesses, and new technologies that propel American innovation. Since those taxes are paid disproportionately to the federal government, the federal government should return those revenues to state and local governments to provide necessary social and technical services including health care, education, and integration.
• We reject the politics of anger and division and are working together across the states to promote policies that live up to America’s core ideals and community values. Intrusive and unnecessary identification laws designed to divide communities actually hurt American citizens and prevent them from accessing necessary social services and fully participating in our democracy.

In addition, we endorse the principles of the National Immigration Forum’s pledge for local/state elected leaders supporting comprehensive immigration reform, including the following principles:

• The states, cities and towns of America are a melting pot of cultures and nationalities based on our nation’s history of welcoming immigrants from around the world. Our immigrant forebearers and those living here now strengthen the economic, social, and civic foundations of our country and bring vitality to state and local communities around the U.S. Reforming the nation’s immigration system is an important component of ensuring America’s sustained economic recovery.
• As state and local officials, we acknowledge that immigrants are part of the fabric of American life. When admitted through a well-regulated system, immigrants strengthen the United States by creating economic opportunities, increasing America’s scientific and cultural resources, strengthening our ties with other nations, fulfilling humanitarian commitments, and supporting family ties and family values that are necessary to build strong communities.
• Immigration reform must be comprehensive and include: improving the economic situation of all workers in the United States; legalizing the status of undocumented immigrants working and living in the United States; reforming visa programs to keep families together, protecting workers’ rights, and ensuring that future immigration is regulated and controlled rather than illegal and chaotic; implementing smart, effective enforcement measures targeted at the worst violators of immigration and labor laws; prioritizing immigrant integration into our communities and country; and respecting the due process rights of all in the United States.
• A fair means for undocumented immigrants to become full contributing members of our society. Requiring undocumented immigrants to come forward, register and get on a path to full legal status and eventual citizenship would help restore the rule of law, eliminate exploitation of immigrant workers, and strengthen opportunities for all workers, including native U.S. workers.
• The financial impact of new immigrants on state and local governments must be recognized as part of a comprehensive approach. The federal government should provide local governments with financial and technical assistance in providing social services, health care, education, language services, and civic integration.

As state legislators, we understand that states and localities are on the front lines of integrating immigrants into daily life. We anticipate federal immigration reform and also know that when Congress passes immigration reform, cities and states will still be the primary providers of necessary services and solutions for immigrants. Thus we commit our efforts to building a long term and sustainable network of state legislators for progressive immigration policies.

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Please contact Suman Raghunathan at sraghunathan@progressivestates.org or (212) 680-3116 x 113 if you would like to sign on to State Legislators for Progressive Immigration Policy.