Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
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Immigration Priorities for the Asian American & Pacific Islander Community

Creating a common sense immigration process is a top priority for the Congressional Asian Pacific American
Caucus (CAPAC) and the diverse constituencies that we represent. America has always been a nation of
immigrants. Over the last few years, Asians have become the single largest demographic of new immigrants
moving to the U.S. and make up the fastest growing racial group in the country.

The Members of CAPAC are committed to working towards fair, bipartisan solutions for our broken immigration
system. We support comprehensive immigration reform and believe it must:

1. Provide a Roadmap to Citizenship for Aspiring Citizens

Of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S., 1.4 million identify as being of
Asian or Pacific Islander descent. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also account for one in ten youth who
would qualify for the DREAM Act.

Immigration reform must include a roadmap to permanent residency and citizenship for immigrants who work
hard, pay their taxes, and undergo criminal and national security background checks. This is especially true for
those who were brought to this country at a young age through no fault of their own, and who are already
Americans in every sense except for on paper.  

2. Support America’s Long-standing Tradition of Family-Based Immigration

In November 2012, there were 4.3 million people in the family immigration backlog, nearly half of whom were
from Asian countries. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders sponsored over 40 percent of all family-based
visas in 2010. Some Asian immigrants have been forced to wait as long as 23 years to be reunited with their
families in the United States, largely due to the limitations and inefficiencies of our legal immigration system.

Any effort to address immigration reform must prioritize the unity and sanctity of families. We need to reduce
visa backlogs, reunite divided families, and recognize same-sex, bi-national partnerships as family ties and
permanent relatives.

3. Strengthen the U.S. Economy and Workforce

Immigration is not a threat to the U.S. economy – if anything, it makes us stronger. Immigrants fill critical gaps
in our workforce, invest in new businesses, and bring much needed skill sets in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM). In 2010, nearly one in five Fortune 500 companies had at least one immigrant
founder. In 2007, Asian-owned small businesses alone had sales and receipts of over half a trillion dollars
and employed 2.8 million people.

Any plan for immigration reform should include provisions to attract and retain the best talent from around the
world, especially those with backgrounds in much needed STEM fields. It must also provide legal routes
through which aspiring citizens can fill gaps in the U.S. workforce, as well as labor protections to prevent
employers from exploiting and abusing immigrant workers.

4. Promote the Integration of New Americans

Nearly three-fourths of Asian American adults are foreign born and more than 4.6 million Asian Americans
report speaking English "less than very well."

Our immigration process must promote the full integration of new Americans by supporting programs that
provide for English language acquisition, civic education, and affordable healthcare and social services.

5. Establish Smarter, More Effective Enforcement

Immigration enforcement should be focused on keeping our borders secure, targeting serious criminals, and
stopping those who pose threats to our public safety and national security.

Smart enforcement should avoid imposing burdensome mandates on local police forces, prohibit the use of
racial profiling, and end practices that place undue strain on legitimate travel and commerce. Enforcement
policies should also reflect our values by respecting the civil liberties of those who are detained, reducing
undue hardships on children and families, and operating with full transparency and accountability. Similarly,
the use of mandatory employment verification systems should only be implemented widely after important
privacy, civil liberty, budgetary, and technological flaws have been resolved.

Comprehensive immigration reform is the right thing to do for our national security, our economy, and our
values as a nation. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus is committed to working towards a fair
and viable solution that honors our nation’s founding principles and furthers the interests of all Americans.

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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian
and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu,
CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was
founded in 1994.