Prioritizing law enforcement against criminal actors who are undocumented

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We hope that our country can develop an effective asylum system for those fleeing persecution and an immigration system that keeps our borders safe and secure, with enforcement policies that focus on those who present risks and dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs, and end human trafficking. The United States should have an immigration system that protects vulnerable migrants and their families, many of whom have already been victimized by criminal actors.
An estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States and could be deported because of their lack of legal status. These individuals and their families have lived in the United States many years, participate in the workforce, and contribute to local society. However, they are at risk of mistreatment from local and federal law enforcement – including racial profiling – and exploitation by their employers, primarily due to their undocumented status. Immigration reform would include a legalization process that would provide protections for these vulnerable individuals and their families.
Promote access to asylum and due process. Immigration reform legislation should limit policies that place undue burdens on asylum and instead establish reasonable and achievable pathways to citizenship for refugees and asylum seekers. To facilitate this, universal access to pro bono legal programs must be supported.
Enforcement efforts should be targeted, proportional, and humane. Safeguarding American communities and upholding the rule of law are laudable goals. At the same time, a country’s rights to regulate its borders and enforce its immigration laws must be balanced with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the God-given dignity of all persons, and enact policies that further the common good. Whether along an international border or in the interior of the country, enforcement measures should focus on those who present genuine risks and dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs, and end human trafficking. Just enforcement also requires limiting the use of detention, especially for families, children, pregnant women, the sick, elderly, and disabled, given its proven harms and the pervasive lack of appropriate care in detention settings. Military personnel, resources, and tactics should not be used in immigration enforcement. Deportations and other enforcement actions should always be carried out with due regard for families, community ties, and religious liberty interests.