Immigration Reform

Imbued with the historical memory of undergoing the immigrant experience, AJC supports a fair and just immigration policy that upholds the rights of immigrants while also strengthening the security and prosperity of the U.S. Ongoing national conflict over immigration undermines our country and weakens its commitment to democratic and humanitarian values.

AJC advocates reform of the current immigration system. Through advocacy, amicus briefs, and letters, AJC calls for common-sense solutions that meet the economic and national security needs of the U.S. while affirming our American values of justice, equal opportunity, family unification, and human dignity.

Immigration Reform

AJC backs immigration reform that would secure the nation’s borders while offering a humane alternative to the limbo in which 11 million undocumented immigrants find themselves today. We support viable and efficient pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and we call for reforms to address future flows and current backlogs in our immigration system. In particular, we deplore the current administration’s cancellation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs (DACA), designed to protect from deportation young, undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, and afford them a path to citizenship.

AJC rejects the cooption of state and local authorities to enforce immigration policy, since it may lead to racial profiling or other discriminatory practices, and we assert the exclusive power of the federal government to enforce immigration law and secure our borders. We urge increased support for the civic and economic integration of all immigrants.

Immigrant Children

Unaccompanied migrant children who enter the U.S. without lawful immigration status leave their homes for a variety of reasons, including poverty, violence, trafficking and abuse, and they endure dangerous journeys from their home countries.

As immigrants and children of immigrants, Jews have prospered in and contributed to this country, and we believe that the same opportunity should be available for others. In the best interests of immigrant children, AJC advocates ensuring their safety and well-being. We recommend providing adequate resources to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, improving the screening and training protocols to spot trafficking along the border, placing children in community-based care, and providing legal representation for all unaccompanied migrant children.

For all migrants fleeing extraordinary and temporary life-threatening situations in several countries south of the border, we support making Temporary Protected Status (TPS) available.

To access AJC’s immigration reform policy paper, click here.