On Wednesday, two Democratic Senators, Mazie K. Hirono and Tammy Duckworth, introduced groundbreaking legislation aimed at reuniting immigrant families and addressing the long-standing issues in the U.S. immigration system. The bill, titled the Reuniting Families Act, seeks to reduce the family-based immigration backlog, raise the per-country immigration caps, and ensure a more just and efficient system that prioritizes family unity.
The Reuniting Families Act comes at a critical moment, as the U.S. immigration system is grappling with inefficiencies that have kept thousands of families separated for years. Senator Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasized the need to update the country’s immigration laws to reflect the realities of modern family immigration. "As the only immigrant currently serving in the U.S. Senate, I am proud to introduce the Reuniting Families Act to update our country's family immigration system and promote family unity," Hirono said. "This bill addresses the long-standing issues within our immigration system that have kept families apart for far too long."
The proposed legislation includes several key provisions designed to address both systemic issues and specific challenges faced by immigrant families. These include:
Reducing Family-Based Immigration Backlogs: The bill would implement measures to significantly reduce the current backlogs in family-based immigration cases, which have resulted in years-long delays for many families waiting for visas.
Raising Per-Country Family Immigration Caps: One of the most significant changes is the proposal to increase the per-country caps on family-based immigration, which would allow more visas to be allocated to countries like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines, countries that have historically faced disproportionately long wait times for family-sponsored visas.
Visa Exemptions for Close Relatives: The legislation would exempt close family members, such as spouses, unmarried children under 21, and certain parents of legal permanent residents, from the existing caps on family-based immigration visas. This would help expedite the process for families who have already been approved for green cards but have been waiting due to bureaucratic delays.
Filipino Veterans Family Reunification: The bill also includes a provision that speeds up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. This measure aims to honor the legacy of these veterans by helping their families reunite more quickly.
Protecting Children and LGBTQ+ Families: The bill seeks to protect children from “aging out” once they turn 21, preventing them from being excluded from family-based immigration petitions. It also extends protections for LGBTQ+ families, ensuring that same-sex couples are treated equally under the immigration system and that partners are not separated under the guise of outdated laws.
Recapturing Unused Visas: The legislation would allow unused visas from previous years to be added to the current visa pool, increasing the number of available family-based immigration visas.
Ending Unfair “Bars” on Reentry: The bill would grant government discretion in applying certain "bars" on individuals, especially in cases where immigrants who unlawfully entered the U.S. would otherwise be forced to return to their home country to apply for visas.
As Senator Duckworth stated, “Our country’s broken immigration system is riddled with unnecessary barriers that have created backlogs and kept families apart for years.” She added, "This legislation would implement commonsense reforms to help end family-based backlogs, which keep too many with approved green card applications stuck in bureaucratic limbo, and get more families where they belong—together."
This bill is a critical step toward reforming an immigration system that too often fails to uphold the values of family unity and fairness. As Asian Americans Advancing Justice pointed out, the last significant legislative change to the family-based immigration system was made in 1990, and since then, the system has become increasingly inefficient, causing unnecessary hardship for families. The Reuniting Families Act presents a vision for a future immigration system that recognizes the importance of keeping families together.
As an immigration specialist, I wholeheartedly support the Reuniting Families Act. This bill addresses the urgent need for reform in our immigration system, which has too often prioritized bureaucracy over family unity. By raising the per-country caps and eliminating discriminatory barriers, this legislation promises to make the immigration process more equitable and compassionate. Family-based immigration is one of the cornerstones of our immigration system, and it’s critical that we provide fair pathways for families to reunite. This bill is an essential step in the right direction, and I hope it receives the support it deserves from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Reuniting families isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a reflection of the values that make the U.S. a beacon of hope for millions around the world.
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