Earlier this month, Georgia Senator David Perdue, in partnership with Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, re-introduced the RAISE Act (S. 1720), a bill which aims to cut legal forms of immigration in half over the next ten years and add new entry requirements for those who wish to come to the United States.
The bill seeks to limit entry in many ways, including:
· Limiting refugee arrivals to 50,000 per year
· Reducing the number of family-sponsored immigrants allowed to come, and cutting the list of family ties to only include spouses and unmarried children
· Ending the diversity visa program, which welcomes 50,000 immigrants annually
These decisions would have drastic effects on the work of New American Pathways and our partners. We would experience a drastic reduction in resettlement, a program with a history of humanitarian welcome going back to President Ronald Reagan, and immigrants already thriving in the United States would no longer be allowed to reunite with long-lost family members.
We oppose the suggested requirements for entry, which would severely limit the diversity of new Americans welcomed in our communities. A recently-released Time article allows readers to see if they have what it would take to pass the test for entry – with many readers realizing they’d be left out of the land of opportunity.
However, there is much you can do to help stop the RAISE Act before it becomes law:
· Educate: Read more about the bill, its negative effects on the economy, and make sure to tell your friends about this anti-welcoming legislation.
· Advocate: Call Senator Perdue and tell him to remove his name from this damaging legislation. Make sure he knows Georgians believe in being welcoming for all. See our call to action below, which you can share. While you’re calling, don’t forget to call Senator Isakson, who recently said he is “likely” to vote for the bill if given the chance. He can be reached at 770-661-0999
· Donate: The funds you give can help us continue our work to welcome new Americans and to advocate for their welcome.
Join us by raising your voice against the RAISE act.