Fixing America’s Broken Immigration System

On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions to begin to fix the Nation’s broken immigration system. These executive actions crack down on illegal immigration at the border; prioritize deporting felons, not families; and allow certain undocumented immigrants who register and pass criminal and national security background checks to start paying their fair share of taxes and temporarily stay in the United States without fear of deportation. These actions are only a first step toward reform of the system, and the Administration continues to count on the Congress for the more comprehensive reform that only legislative changes can provide.

The comprehensive reform supported by the President and passed by the Senate in 2013 would fix the Nation’s broken immigration system by continuing to strengthen U.S. border security, cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers, modernizing the Nation’s legal immigration system, and providing a pathway to earned citizenship for hardworking men and women who pay a penalty and taxes, learn English, pass background checks, and go to the back of the line.

In addition to contributing to a safer and more just society, comprehensive immigration reform will also boost economic growth, reduce deficits, and strengthen Social Security. Common sense immigration reform will strengthen the workforce by attracting and retaining the best and brightest students whom are trained at U.S. universities, strengthening capital investment and overall productivity, and increasing the number of entrepreneurs starting companies in the United States, thereby creating more jobs. Moreover, by adding younger workers to the labor force, reforming America’s broken legal immigration system will help balance an aging population and improve the economic and budget outlook as the baby boom generation retires.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the immigration bill that passed with bipartisan support in the Senate would reduce the deficit by about $160 billion in the first decade and by almost $1 trillion over 20 years. Meanwhile, the Social Security Actuaries have found that the Senate bill would reduce the Social Security shortfall by $300 billion over the first 10 years and would close eight percent of the 75-year Social Security shortfall.

The Administration supports the bipartisan Senate approach taken in 2013, and calls on the Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform this year. While the President’s executive actions will provide temporary relief while demanding accountability for those whose cases are not an enforcement priority, the Administration urges the Congress to act to permanently fix the Nation’s broken immigration system.

2.9.1
Addressing the Root Causes of Migration from Central America

The President’s Budget provides $1 billion to support a long-term, comprehensive strategy for Central America to minimize the pressures of illegal immigration on the United States. The Budget will enable concrete progress toward achieving the President’s priority of advancing security, prosperity, and economic growth in the region. The Budget provides resources to focused lines of effort that will take on the root causes of the dangerous migration of unaccompanied children and families, where Central American migrants are extremely vulnerable to becoming victims of violent crime or sexual abuse along the journey. These lines of effort are designed to achieve an economically-integrated Central America that provides economic opportunities to its people; more democratic, accountable, transparent, and effective public institutions; and a safe environment for its citizens to build their lives in peace and stability. Investments in the region also will allow the United States to work with its partners to improve the capacity of Central American governments to receive and reintegrate migrants and to target human smugglers. These resources will complement efforts by Central American governments, especially in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, to accelerate longer-term reforms and improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens. They will allow the United States to increase its coordination with regional governments as well as with international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and other international partners, to promote regional prosperity through a sustained, well-coordinated plan to address longstanding challenges to economic growth in the region. Based on the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America, which focuses on the interlocking themes of prosperity, security, and good governance, the United States is ready to support aspects of the “Alliance for Prosperity” plan developed jointly by the governments of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, while working with other international stakeholders and the private sector to define and accelerate their support.

2.9.2
Securing the Borders and Enforcing U.S. Immigration Laws

Our long-term investment in border security and immigration enforcement has produced significant and positive results. Under this Administration, the resources that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dedicates to security at the Southwest border are at an all-time high. Compared to 2008, today there are 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents along the Southwest border. Border fencing, unmanned aircraft surveillance systems, and ground surveillance systems have more than doubled since 2008. Border apprehensions — a key indicator of border security — are at their lowest levels since the 1970s. Even this summer’s influx of unaccompanied children was met with an aggressive, coordinated Federal response focused on heightened deterrence, enhanced enforcement, stronger foreign cooperation, and greater capacity for Federal agencies to ensure that the U.S. border remains secure. As a result of the Administration’s efforts at the border, the size of the unauthorized population living in the United States has stopped growing for the first time in 40 years.

The Budget continues the investment in border security by maintaining U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) front line operations, funding additional technology and infrastructure, and expanding and enhancing intelligence and targeting capabilities. The Budget supports 21,370 Border Patrol Agents and 26,075 CBP Officers, including over 2,300 new Officers supported by proposed increases to user fees. The Budget includes over $373 million for the acquisition and sustainment of technology and tactical infrastructure along U.S. borders, an increase of $90 million over the current Continuing Resolution funding levels for DHS and $11 million above the 2015 Budget. This includes $128 million to support the deployment of new technology and tactical infrastructure investments along the Southwest border. These technology investments provide CBP with increased situational awareness on the border, as well as the ability to effectively respond to border incursions. The Budget also provides $97 million for recapitalization of aging non-intrusive inspection equipment at ports of entry, which will help CBP more efficiently detect security threats and facilitate lawful trade and travel. The Budget also funds an increase of $36 million in CBP intelligence and targeting activities that provide cutting-edge analytic support to Agents and Officers in the field.

You’ve just read Chapter 2.9:
Fixing America’s Broken Immigration System

Read next Chapter 2.10:
Improving Health Care through ACA and Additional Reforms