New Democrat Coalition Whip Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) joined fellow coalition leaders in unveiling their immigration reform framework to protect our border, create a path to citizenship, and strengthen our economy. The framework demonstrates New Dems’ commitment to finding a bipartisan solution to keep people safe, boost our economy, and preserve the American Dream.

The New Democrat Coalition is comprised of nearly 100 center-left House Democrats committed to breaking through gridlock to deliver results for Americans. Congresswoman Lee has worked with the New Democrats to develop sound immigration and border security policies, and repeatedly called on Republicans to join Democrats in advancing these common sense, bipartisan solutions.

“The only answer to our broken immigration system is a bipartisan solution. Now is the time for Congress to address a major issue that has been facing our economy and national security for far too long. Whether I’m talking to a big casino owner, a small business owner, a construction company, or a renewable energy company, the number one issue that gets brought to my attention is workforce,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “I believe many of my Republican colleagues want a bipartisan immigration solution, but when they had the chance to act, Republican leadership chose to kill the deal and exploit the border for political points. If we want to protect our border, support our economy, and provide a pathway to citizenship, then my Republican colleagues must come to the table and work with us who remain ready to get the job done.”

You can find the framework here, and an abbreviated version below:

Note on Bipartisanship

This is a framework and a discussion. The best immigration solutions have bipartisan consensus.
New Democrats are committed to lasting solutions to our nation’s problems and recognize such solutions are often the result of bipartisan efforts. There are areas to be flexible within this framework.
Section I: Strengthen America’s Economic Competitiveness

Eliminate the per-country cap for employment-based (EB) immigration visas and raise the family-sponsored per-country visa cap from 7 percent to 15 percent.
Increase the number available EB visas to keep up with workforce demands.
Section II: Build the Workforce Our Economy Needs

Establish a pathway for migrant farmworkers in the United States to earn legal status and make commonsense reforms to the H-2A visa program.
Permanently authorize the Conrad 30 waiver program, which allows physicians studying in the United States on a J-1 visa a pathway into the country upon graduation.
Create a new temporary non-immigrant visa category for year-around work in industries experiencing occupation shortages.
Section III: Secure Our Nation’s Border, Once and For All

Fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at a sufficient level that ensures that Customs and Border Protection has no fewer than 22,000 full-time Border Patrol agents, increase the number of CBP officers at ports of entry by at least 500 to help halt the flow of illicit drugs such as fentanyl, increase CBP retention bonuses and raise the minimum pay rate of Border Patrol agents at or below the GS-12 pay scale level.
Fund DHS at a sufficient level that ensures it can upgrade the technology used at the border including investment in radar surveillance systems, mobile remote video surveillance systems, manned and unmanned vehicles; drones; the CBP One app; and CBP’s internal communications systems and improve infrastructure at the border including investment to upgrade roads and other pathways; clear invasive species that impede sightlines, and—in strategic locations where necessary—upgrade physical barriers.
Direct DHS to implement biometric monitoring at their ports of entry by 2030 in accordance with Congressional Mandate.
Section IV: Embrace Those Who are a Part of the American Fabric: A Pathway to Citizenship for Dreamers and TPS Holders

Grant Dreamers conditional permanent resident status if they sufficiently meet criteria, including passing security and law enforcement background checks; paying reasonable application fees; have received a high school diploma, GED, are in a program assisting them in obtaining a high school diploma or GED; or are working.
Grant Dreamers lawful permanent resident status if they acquire a degree from an institution of higher education, or complete at least two years of a post-secondary level degree program while remaining in good standing; complete at least two years of military service or are honorably discharged; OR maintain continued employment for a minimum of three years, at least 75 percent of which the individual was authorized to work in the United States.
Pursuant to current naturalization requirements, permit Dreamers to apply for U.S. citizenship upon maintaining permanent resident status for five years.
Grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) Holders lawful permanent residence if they have been in the country over three years and pass security and law enforcement background checks.
Section V: Provide A Path to Legal Status for Those Who Pass a Background Check and Pay a Fine

Grant undocumented immigrants who arrived to the United States when they were over age 18 temporary legal status if they pay a fine, pass a criminal background check, have not been convicted of a felony offense in the United States or their country of origin, and are enrolled in school or work full time.
At the end of five years, grant those individuals lawful permanent residence status if they continue to meet certain criteria.
Section VI: Fully Enforce Our Nation’s Immigration Laws

Initiate legal proceedings for undocumented immigrants that do not qualify for temporary legal status. Undocumented immigrants who committed a felony, and those who fail to earn legal status, must be held accountable.
Modernize compliance tools to digitally ensure U.S. employers can determine the work eligibility of new hires, with assistance to small businesses and safe harbor for employers that attempt in good faith to comply.
Provide judicial discretion for immigration judges to consider marital, veteran, and other ties to the United States and specific communities when deciding legal status cases.
Section VII: Reform our Broken Asylum System and Safeguard it From Abuse

Transition the nation’s immigration court system into an independent judiciary, consistent with Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
Provide funding to hire additional immigration judges and staff support to address the significant backlog of asylum cases and accelerate the adjudication process.
Establish new regional processing centers (RPCs) in Latin America to allow asylum-seekers to visit the nearest RPC before traveling, receive an interview, and if eligible, be processed for lawful entry into the United States, Canada, Spain and other participating nations.
Section VIII: Strengthen U.S. Bilateral Relationships and Address Root Causes of Migration

Work with the Department of State, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local authorities to disrupt the flow of drugs and illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances, including by sharing information on precursor chemicals, providing more detection tools, addressing gang recruitment, and encouraging local education for local work.
Improve economic partnerships, including by exploring trade opportunities, access to financial markets, and foreign direct investment to solidify relationships.
Section IX: Expand Legal Immigration Pathways

Expand employment-based pathways—including allocating 100,000 additional green cards per year for international graduates of U.S. colleges and universities, exempting the dependents of employment-based green card holders from numerical caps that apply to employment-based green cards, and establishing a “startup visa” program that would provide legal permanent status for immigrants seeking to start businesses in the United States.
Replace the outdated existing numerical caps for visas on employment, family reunification, and diversity bases with percentage-based caps that allow immigration to grow with the American population and economy.
Section X: Encourage the President to Take Executive Action

Executive action on some of these points may include, but is not limited to, actions that protect DACA recipients and TPS holders; extend TPS designations for countries in crisis as warranted; and streamline legal immigration pathways.