1. NCCIU Webinar December 10, 2010 Frank Sharry, America’s Voice
U.S Immigration Policy
NCCIU Webinar
December 10, 2010
Frank Sharry, America’s Voice

2. Major categories of legal immigration
Family reunification (four preferences/quotas)
Employment (permanent and temporary)
Humanitarian (refugees, asylees, TPS)

3. THE NUMBERS Legal Immigrants: 1920-1961: 206,000 annually
Refugees, Parolees, Asylees
: 65,000 annually
: 85,672 annually
: 81,231 annually
Source: James H. Johnson, Jr., Kenan-Flagler Business School

4. Unauthorized Immigrants:
500,000 annual net over the past decade; significant slowing since onset of recession
Three million granted legal status in 1986
2.7 million illegal immigrants remained in U.S. after 1986 reforms
October 1996: INS estimated that there were 5 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S.
2009: Unauthorized population estimated to be 10.8 million
Source: Pew Hispanic Center, James H. Johnson, Jr., Kenan-Flagler Business School, DHS

7. What works about the current system
Orderly system
Serves U.S. interests, families, and employers
Generous by international standards
What does not work about the current system
Inflexible quotas – overall and by country
Demand has outstripped supply of visas for decades
Mismatch has generated large-scale illegal immigration

8. The policy debate at the national level
Illegal immigration is the top concern: how to stop it, what to do about those here illegally, how to enforce rules so that it doesn’t reoccur?
Legal immigration: what are the right levels, what are the right priorities, and how can it adjust to changing conditions?
Humanitarian admissions: refugees, asylees, decision-making and controversies – who is a real refugee and how do we decide?
The policy debate at the state and local level
Enforcement-related measures: 287g, Secure Communities, service and employment prohibitions, etc.
Integration-related initiatives: ESL, citizenship, higher education, etc.
Helping key institutions adapt: education, health, criminal justice, etc.

9. Policy options
Enforcement-only measures and attrition through enforcement (federal enforcement and Arizona-style measures)
Comprehensive immigration reform that combines enforcement with path to legal status for those here illegally.
Targeted measure such as DREAM Act, AgJOBS, and others.

10. Key questions for the long-term debate
Can illegal immigration be significantly reduced, even with major reform?
How can migration pressures in sending communities be reduced?
How can local communities and states be helped so that newcomers become new Americans? 

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