In Commonplace magazine, Roy Beck tells the story of Barbara Jordan’s bipartisan commission and its blueprint for an immigration system that serves the national interest. H.R. 8586, the Americans First Immigration Act, is the closest Congress has come to that blueprint in thirty years. It would require employers to seek out American workers before importing foreign labor, replace the random visa lottery with a merit-based system, and end chain migration (the automatic extension of green cards to adult relatives beyond an immigrant’s spouse and minor children).

Jordan’s commission put it simply: unless there is a compelling national interest to do otherwise, immigrants should be chosen for the skills they contribute, with family admissions reserved for spouses and minor children. That is precisely the structure this bill restores. Please support and pass H.R. 8586.

American workers have waited three decades for Congress to finish this work. An immigration system built around the country’s needs is long overdue, and passing this bill would show Congress finally means to deliver one.

Greg Raven, Apple Valley, CA

Sent to:
Jay Obernolte