Minutes ago, the text of the bipartisan national security funding bill was released. It:
-funds Ukraine, Israel, and humanitarian relief
-secures our border and reforms our asylum law
1/ As the co-author of the immigration provisions, here's a THREAD on the key elements:
-funds Ukraine, Israel, and humanitarian relief
-secures our border and reforms our asylum law
1/ As the co-author of the immigration provisions, here's a THREAD on the key elements:
2/ First - it would be easy to just keep immigration and border policy as a political cudgel for another 40 years. But politics at its best is about finding bipartisan compromise on the toughest issues. That's what we've done here.
Here's a snapshot of what's in the bill.
Here's a snapshot of what's in the bill.
3/ A quicker, fairer asylum process. No more 10 yr wait. Claims processed in a non-detained, non-adversarial way in 6 months.
A slightly higher asylum screening standard at the border.
Also, no more waiting for work permits. Most asylum seekers can work immediately.
A slightly higher asylum screening standard at the border.
Also, no more waiting for work permits. Most asylum seekers can work immediately.
4/ A brand new right to legal representation for all immigrants. Remember when Trump denied lawyers to victims of the Muslim ban? Never again.
And...the first ever government paid-for lawyers for young unaccompanied minors. A long standing injustice righted.
And...the first ever government paid-for lawyers for young unaccompanied minors. A long standing injustice righted.
5/ A requirement the President to funnel asylum claims to the land ports of entry when more than 5,000 people cross a day. The border never closes, but claims must be processed at the ports.
This allows for a more a more orderly, humane asylum processing system.
This allows for a more a more orderly, humane asylum processing system.
6/ But...important checks on that power. It can only be used for a limited number of days per year. It sunsets in 3 years. Emergency cases that show up in between the ports still need to be accepted. The ports must process a minimum of 1400 claims a day.
7/ You can't reduce arrivals at the border without allowing for more legal immigration. So, more visas! 50,000 extra employment and family reunification visas each year for the next 5 years.
And a brand new visa category to allow non-citizens to visit family in the U.S.
And a brand new visa category to allow non-citizens to visit family in the U.S.
8/ A clarification of how humanitarian parole is used at the land borders, but NO changes to the President's ability to bring in vetted, sponsored migrants through the program known as CNHV (Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela parole).
9/ A new pathway to citizenship for Afghan parolees (the Afghan Adjustment Act) and the children of H1B holders (these kids are often currently subject to deportation when they become 21).
10/ The bill helps fix the border and reform our broken asylum system. But it doesn’t deviate from our nation’s core values.
We are a nation that rescues people from terror and violence. We are a nation that is stronger because of our tradition of immigration. Period. Stop.
We are a nation that rescues people from terror and violence. We are a nation that is stronger because of our tradition of immigration. Period. Stop.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
