Immigration and America’s Future: A New Chapter Final Report of the Independent Task Force Co-chaired by Spencer Abraham and Lee H. Hamilton

As Congress and the Administration remain deadlocked on how to combat illegal immigration, a high-level, bipartisan task force has called for fundamental reform of the nation’s immigration laws and system. The report and recommendations of the Independent Task Force on Immigration and America’s Future, co-chaired by former Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI) and former Rep. Lee H. Hamilton (D-IN), address the dilemmas of illegal immigration but also reconcile the need to meet strong economic and social demands for legal immigration with the imperative to strengthen enforcement and safeguard national security. Other Task Force members include prominent business, labor and immigrant advocacy leaders; policy experts; public officials; and members of Congress who came together to find common ground. Immigration and America’s Future: A New Chapter moves beyond illegal immigration, a symptom of the failures of the current system. It articulates a vision that promotes U.S. global competitiveness in the context of post-9/11 security imperatives, while grappling with many of the technical details that are frustrating reform efforts. The report argues that the nation’s current laws, dating back to the 1950s, are outdated and unsuited to the economic, social and demographic realities of the 21 st century.   Click here for the report.

KJ