Tell Congress you oppose the anti-immigrant RAISE Act
The “Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act” (“RAISE Act”), re-introduced in August 2017 by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Senator David Perdue (R-GA), is another tactic being pushed by Republicans to minimize the presence, contributions, and opportunities for legal immigrants, refugees, and immigrant families.
Hispanic Federation, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, UnidosUS, and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) are collaborating to collect signatures on this petition to Congressional leaders urging them to oppose the RAISE Act. A copy of the final petition will be sent to all Senators and Members of Congress.
Backed by the Trump Administration, the RAISE Act would cap refugee admissions to only 50,000 individuals, significanty lower than previous levels. It would create a new visa system that awards points to potential immigrants, drastically curtailing the family-based immigration system currently in place. Points would be awarded based on characteristics such as English fluency and education levels. The bill would also reduce the number of green cards available each year by 60-70%, and would eliminate the diversity lottery.
The Cotton-Purdue bill, if passed, is the biggest attack on legal immigration in nearly a century and on our country’s rich history of recognizing the value of keeping families together. The impact on Latino, Asian, and Black immigrants and their families would be devastating.
The RAISE Act is an extremist proposal that will keep families apart, punish the poor, and hurt the American economy by denying businesses access to essential workers. The United States must reform its immigration system, not destroy it.
For more information on this bill, please see Asian Americans Advancing Justice analysis and talking points available here.