Thu Dec 05 10:36:44 UTC 2024: ## Bipartisan Bill Aims to Reform US Family-Based Immigration System
**Washington, DC – December 5, 2024** – Two Democratic senators, Mazie K. Hirono and Tammy Duckworth, introduced the Reuniting Families Act on Wednesday, aiming to overhaul the US family-based immigration system. The bill seeks to address significant backlogs, reunite separated families, and update outdated laws.
Key provisions include: recapturing unused visas from previous years; exempting close relatives from visa caps; raising per-country caps to allow more visas for countries like India and China; providing government discretion in applying certain immigration bars; protecting children from “aging out” of eligibility; expanding cancellation of deportation orders; and eliminating discrimination against LGBTQ+ families.
Senator Hirono, the only immigrant currently serving in the Senate, emphasized the bill’s importance in promoting family unity and reducing backlogs that have kept families separated for years. Senator Duckworth highlighted the broken immigration system and the need for common-sense reforms.
Supporters, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), Forward.us, and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), lauded the bill as a crucial step towards modernizing a system last significantly updated in 1990. They stressed the need to address the decades-long backlogs and combat negative narratives surrounding immigration. The bill is seen as a significant step towards a more humane and efficient immigration system, prioritizing family reunification.
First Piper 