News

Congress needs to hear from you NOW. HR 3486 is up for a vote. This misguided legislation goes against foundational human rights principles, harms people, wastes taxpayer dollars, and will actually make our communities less safe. 

The proposed legislation would:

• Allow life sentences for some people who re-enter the U.S. without authorization.
• Expand existing criminal penalties for immigration violations by creating prolonged sentences and mandatory minimums for people who enter the U.S. without authorization.
• Force immigration violations out of a civil system into a biased criminal system with unjust and disproportionate punishments.

HR 3486 represents what's wrong with our current approach to immigration: exceedingly harsh, expensive, and ineffective. Call your representatives and tell Congress to choose a better path.

The Bottom Line: Vote NO on HR 3486

This bill doesn't fix our immigration system—it breaks it further while draining resources from real public safety priorities. Tell Congress to find meaningful solutions to our immigration system, not invest in harmful political theater like HR 3486.

Why We Oppose HR 3486 

It Violates Foundational Principles of Due Process and Protection from Persecution.

• Asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution will be criminalized for seeking safety through the main legal pathway available.
• Life sentences for non-violent immigration violations are more severe than the consequences for many violent crimes. 
• Mandatory minimums violate our values of due process and have proven unsuccessful in addressing crime - why repeat those mistakes with immigration?

It Creates Cruel and Counterproductive Outcomes

• Torture survivors will face re-traumatization through prolonged detention.
• Families will be separated for decades - or life - over immigration status.
• People who have built lives and contributed to our communities will face draconian punishment.
• Survivors of trafficking and abuse will face imprisonment for acts they were forced to commit. 

It Undermines Public Safety & Wastes Taxpayer Money

• Victims and witnesses of serious crimes will be too afraid to report to or cooperate with police.
• Law enforcement resources will be diverted from investigating serious crimes to pursue immigration violations.
• Community policing relationships will be destroyed when immigrant communities stop trusting police.
• Building new prisons will cost billions, as the law supersizes what is already the highest incarceration rate in the world. 

What Congress Should Do Instead

America needs comprehensive immigration reform that:

• Ensures people fleeing persecution or torture are not prosecuted for seeking safety.
• Expands legal pathways for immigration that reflect the needs of American families, employers, and communities.
• Invests in immigration courts and application processing to reduce backlogs.
• Focuses enforcement on violent threats to public safety; not distractions.
• Does not repeat shortsighted, costly, and ineffective policies focused on detention, deportation, and punishment.
• Guarantees due process and protects foundational human rights principles for all people.

Take Action Now

Call your Representatives today: "I urge you to vote NO on HR 3486. This bill wastes taxpayer money, makes communities less safe, and contradicts our values. Instead, support comprehensive immigration reform that actually addresses our challenges."

The stakes are too high to stay silent. Our communities and our values are on the line.