CLINTON ON IMMIGRATION

PART TWO OF SERIES: THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

HILLARY CLINTON

Hillary Clinton’s website highlights eight key pieces of her immigration proposals.

1.       Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) – Ms. Clinton promises to introduce CIR, including a pathway to US Citizenship, within the first 100 days of her presidency.

2.       End the Three/Ten Year Bar – Under current immigration law, those who overstay the end-date on their I-94 card by six months to a year are barred from returning to the US or applying for any type of visa for three years.  Those who overstay by more than a year are barred from returning to the US or applying for a visa for ten years.  Ms. Clinton seeks eliminate this penalty.

3.       Defend DACA and DAPA – President Obama’s Executive Action created the DACA and DAPA programs.  These programs allow individuals who were brought to the US as children or have US Citizen children to apply for a stay of deportation and work authorization.  Most recently, the US Supreme Court’s 4-4 tied decision left in place an appeals court ruling which blocked these programs.  Ms. Clinton believes these programs are within the President’s authority and intends to continue fighting for their implementation.

4.       Expand Deferred Action – A grant of Deferred Action is essentially a promise on the part of the US government not to deport the grantee.  Ms. Clinton intends to expand Deferred Action for those with sympathetic cases, for example: those with a history of service and contribution to their communities or those who experience extreme labor violations.

5.       Enforce Immigration Laws Humanely – Secretary Clinton states immigration enforcement should be humane, targeted, and effective.  Ms. Clinton wants to focus enforcement resources on detaining and deporting individuals who are a threat to public safety.

6.       End Family Detention – Ms. Clinton plans to end the detention of parents and children who arrive in the US fleeing desperate circumstances.  Secretary Clinton also intends to close all private (non-government) immigration detention centers.

7.       Expand Health Insurance Coverage for Immigrant Families – Secretary Clinton wants to allow individuals of any immigration status to purchase health insurance on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Exchanges.

8.       Promote Naturalization – Ms. Clinton will expand fee waivers, increase English-language proficiency programs, and boost outreach and education to encourage individuals to apply for Naturalization.

Please note this post summarizes only the points available on Secretary Clinton’s website regarding immigration reform.  Speeches, interviews, or other materials are not captured here.