Immigration Reform
Immigrants are an important part of our district’s and nation’s history, culture and economy. However, our current immigration system is broken. There are more than 11 million undocumented residents living within our borders. <br />
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It’s time we fix our broken immigration system. We cannot do this through more piecemeal steps. We need to take a comprehensive approach that solves the whole problem. <br />
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We’re a nation of laws. And it’s important that we enforce those laws. Immigration reform must strengthen our borders and be fair to U.S. taxpayers. <br />
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We’re also a nation of immigrants. More than a million immigrants come to our country every year in search of greater opportunities for themselves and their families. They strengthen our nation and contribute to our economy. Reforms should allow immigrants to earn the right to join us as fully participating taxpayers. We should establish a streamlined program for temporary workers, and address unauthorized immigrants who are currently in our country by creating an earned path to citizenship that requires steps like passing a background check, paying a reasonable fine and back taxes, and going to the back of the line behind those who are playing by the rules while continuing to live and work in the U.S. <br />
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As Congress take up comprehensive immigration reform, I will work to include policies that will:<br />
• Strengthen our borders, provide the appropriate number of border patrol agents and supply them with the resources and technology they need to protect our land and maritime borders; <br />
• Focus enforcement of our immigration laws on criminals and national security threats, including transnational crime and drug traffickers;<br />
• Give local law enforcement more flexibility in complying with the Department of Homeland Security’s Secure Communities Program.<br />
• Expedite the naturalization process for our military personnel, veterans, and their families;<br />
• Reform our current seasonal worker visa program and give agricultural workers the ability to earn legal status provided they meet certain requirements, such as paying taxes and any fines;<br />
• Enact into law President Obama’s deferred action policy for individuals brought to this country as children, who are under the age of 30 and pose no criminal or security threat (the so-called DREAMers);<br />
• Provide immigration benefits to same-sex couples;<br />
• Reduce the backlog of visa applications that have been pending for extended periods of time, while ensuring that background checks are conducted to protect our national security.<br />
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Immigration reform is a top priority for our district and nation, and I will continue my work on comprehensive reform that strengthens our borders, is fair to taxpayers, allows children of immigrants to get a college education, provides an earned pathway to citizenship for families who’ve been here for generations, and establishes a guest worker program for those here doing the jobs Americans don’t want to do. <br />
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Washington – Last week, U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04) sat down with a constituent and DACA recipient from California’s Fourth Congressional District who was denied entry back into the U.S. for weeks after a trip to Mexico due to a clerical error by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services. The constituent, who is identified only as Jane Doe to remain anonymous, sat down with Rep. Thompson to discuss the harrowing incident and how Thompson and his team were able to intervene to bring her home.
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement in support of our immigrant community in California’s Fourth Congressional District:
“Immigrants are our neighbors and colleagues, soldiers and first responders, doctors and lawyers, farmers, entrepreneurs, teachers and so much more. Our nation would not be the powerhouse of the world without immigrants’ countless contributions to the United States’ history, culture, and economy.
Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced that UpValley Family Centers of Napa County is receiving a $179,000 grant from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program.
Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) concluded his tour of El Paso and the border alongside Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and a number of his colleagues. This visit was accomplished to get a comprehensive look at the challenges federal law enforcement agents and migrants face along the border.
Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) voted to pass the Veteran Service Recognition Act. Immigrants have served in the U.S. armed forces in every major conflict since the Revolutionary War. Today, there are approximately 45,000 immigrants actively serving in the U.S. armed forces. Our servicemembers and veterans have earned benefits and support through the sacrifices they made during their service. This bill will help noncitizen servicemembers, veterans, and their families obtain citizenship.
Immigrants are an integral part of our nation's history, culture, and economy. They strengthen America and contribute greatly to our success. However, the current immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed.
Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) voted to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021. These bills help provide a path to citizenship for our nation's Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders and establishes a program for agricultural workers to earn legal Certified Agricultural Workers status. These critical bills work to make our nation's immigration system fairer and more humane. A statement from Thompson is below.
Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced the House passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to give a path to legal status for agricultural workers. This bill is strongly supported by local growers, farmers and farmworker groups alike. Thompson release the following statement after the vote.
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and 43 members of California's Congressional delegation wrote the President to condemn the transfer of $155 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund to pay for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds. The Disaster Relief Fund is one of our nation's go-to reserves for responding to natural disasters.
Washington – Today Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-05), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), and Brad Sherman (CA-30) released the following joint statement after visiting a facility in Virginia that houses children separated from their parents at the border as a result of the Administration's "zero tolerance" policy.