FAIR Issues Blueprint for True Immigration Reform in the New Administration

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) today issued its Priorities for the 2017 Presidential Transition, a blueprint for true immigration reform in the next administration and the 115^th Congress. The transition plan was introduced at a Washington, D.C., news conference.

The detailed plan lays out short- and long-term policy goals that would refocus U.S. immigration policy on the interests of the American people. "The United States does not currently have an immigration policy, let alone a principled one," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "The new administration must lead the nation in formulating an immigration policy that sets and enforces limits on legal immigration; eliminates – to the greatest extent possible – illegal immigration; and protects American workers, taxpayers, and our most vulnerable citizens."

Among the recommendations for addressing the crisis of mass illegal immigration, the transition document urges:

• Repeal of all Obama administration executive policy decisions that have effectively exempted nearly 90 percent of all immigration law violators from enforcement, including the unconstitutional Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
• Enactment of legislation that removes incentives and rewards for illegal immigration. These include mandatory use of E-Verify by employers to ensure that U.S. jobs are filled by legal workers; elimination of nonemergency, nonessential public benefits and services to illegal aliens; implementation of already legislated biometric entry/exit requirements; end "birthright citizenship" for the children of illegal aliens and birth tourists.
• Foreclose the possibility of amnesty for immigration law violators.
• Enhanced border security, including additional border infrastructure and manpower.
• Enhanced enforcement against immigration law violators. While removal of criminal and dangerous foreign nationals must remain a priority, all illegal aliens must be subject to removal.
• An end to sanctuary jurisdictions that illegally impede or obstruct immigration enforcement, including the denial of certain federal funds to those jurisdictions.

The transition plan also calls for a public interest overhaul of the nation's legal immigration system. Among the recommendations for legal immigration reform:

• Reductions in overall levels to more historic norms of about 300,000 annually. Significantly reducing overall levels of immigration is consistent with the recommendations of the Jordan Commission in the 1990s, which was supported by President Bill Clinton.
• An end to family chain migration by limiting family-based immigration to spouses and unmarried minor children of the principal immigrant.
• Implementation of a merit-based selection system that places all prospective immigrants, regardless of race, religion or national origin on a level playing field.

"True immigration reform must begin with the recognition that our policies exist to serve and protect the vital interests of the American people. This principle has been glaringly absent from our policy for the past 50 years and from recent attempts to reform our policies.

"The American people have spoken very clearly in this recent election. They want illegal immigration stopped. They want a more limited immigration policy that admits people who are most likely to make the greatest contributions to our nation. FAIR's Priorities for the 2017 Presidential Transition provides the new administration and Congress with a clear plan for implementing an immigration policy that serves identifiable public interests and upholds our national values," concluded Stein.

The complete Priorities for the 2017 Presidential Transition document can be found here.