Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Karen Bass (D-CA) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) introduced the New Way Forward Act legislation.
The New Way Forward Act would:
- End mandatory immigration detention;
- Restore judicial discretion and end summary deportations;
- Limit the criminal legal system to deportation pipeline;
- End entanglement between federal immigration law enforcement and local law enforcement;
- Provide an opportunity to come home for people previously deported;
- Decriminalize migration by repealing criminal prosecution for illegal entry and re-entry.
Sanaa Abrar, Advocacy Director of United We Dream Action (UWDA), said:
“Today, UWDA is proud to endorse the New Way Forward Act, and call on Members of Congress to co-sponsor. We are also calling on the Democratic presidential candidates to commit to pass the bill if elected to show they are serious about breaking away from bad policies and lead the country to treat immigrants as human beings.
The New Way Forward Act makes huge strides on immigration; from a cruel system that works to incarcerate and deport immigrants to a system that would welcome all immigrants. By repealing decades of policies meant to racially profile and lock up our communities, the bill directly reflects UWDA’s values of helping people without hurting people, and ensuring people are free to move and free to stay.
Undocumented immigrant youth and our families, who have fought against the mass deportation agenda of Trump and previous administrations, understand that ICE and CBP exist today because of decades of racist and xenophobic policies. We also know that we cannot win significant legislative protections for our community without dismantling the mass enforcement legal system.”
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