Fairness for Immigrant Families Act

Short title— This Act may be cited as the “Fairness for Immigrant Families Act”.

Table of contents— The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Immigration is intrinsic to the American experience. Families throughout the United States have roots in the immigration experience of earlier generations of immigrants who came to the United States seeking better opportunities, safety from persecution, and ultimately, a chance at the American dream.

While the ancestors of some families arrived centuries ago, other families are continuing that tradition today. Approximately 20,000,000 second-generation Americans are living in the United States. As of 2017, 18,200,000 children in the United States, or 26 percent, lived with 1 or more immigrant parents.

In the United States—

Children of immigrants are the future workers, leaders, voters, parents, and taxpayers of the United States and are critical to the health and well-being of the United States.

Second-generation Americans closely reflect or exceed the national average household income, homeownership rate, and college graduation rate.

In their pursuit of the American dream, generations of immigrant families have contributed to their communities in the United States and will continue to do so, including as essential workers who keep the United States running at great risk to themselves and their families.

Immigrants play a critical role in the United States economy, and providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants is a necessary part of maintaining the economic strength of the United States.

Immigrant entrepreneurs account for almost 30 percent of all new entrepreneurs in the United States, and immigrants are almost twice as likely as the United States-born population to become entrepreneurs.

Undocumented immigrants contribute over $11,000,000,000 in State and local taxes each year.

Removing undocumented residents from mixed-status households cuts the median income of such households by 47 percent.

Approximately 1,200,000 mortgages are held by households with 1 or more undocumented individuals.

Indiscriminate immigration enforcement and the threat of immigration enforcement negatively impact the health, development, and well-being of children subject to detention or separation from their families. Neurobiological research demonstrates that children with any prolonged separation are more likely to experience emotional and behavioral issues, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation.

In general— Except as otherwise specifically provided, any term used in this Act that is used in the immigration laws shall have the meaning given the term in the immigration laws.

DACA recipient— The term DACA recipient means an alien who has been granted deferred action pursuant to the memorandum of the Department of Homeland Security entitled “Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children” issued on June 15, 2012.

Immigration laws— The term immigration laws has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).