Immigration
America is a nation of immigrants, and I am proud of our heritage of inclusion that defines us all as Americans. Our district, our state, and our nation are stronger when we embrace diversity and celebrate the contributions of immigrant communities.
Our current immigration system is broken, and I support comprehensive immigration reform to modernize it, including a strict but fair pathway to citizenship. I support the reversal of the Trump Administration’s inhumane and counterproductive immigration policies, and believe we should focus on alleviating the conditions which drive waves of immigrants to leave their home countries.
I am a proud supporter of the Dream and Promise Act, and I will continue to work to protect Dreamers who’ve known no other home but the United States.
More on Immigration
WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced H. Res 468, a resolution supporting DREAMers in the military. The resolution calls on the Secretary of Defense to authorize DREAMers to serve in the armed services. Allowing DREAMers to serve would improve military readiness and let young people who grew up in the United States serve the country they call home.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to provide $4.5 billion in emergency appropriations to address the humanitarian crisis at the Southern border:
Alex Ortiz, The Herald-News
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville called his vote for a bill to provide legal status for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country as children one of his proudest moments in Congress.
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM, Act was originally filed by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, in 2001, but has never been passed, although it's been brought up multiple times in subsequent congressional sessions.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act:
Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-times
WASHINGTON — The House on Tuesday approved a measure to offer legal protections to "Dreamers" and others — youths brought to the U.S. illegally through no fault of their own — with bills authored by Democrats stalled because of a blockade in the GOP-run Senate.
The Senate is a "legislative black hole," Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., a physicist, told me.
"The Senate has become an empty chamber, a legislative graveyard," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on the Senate floor hours before the House vote, throwing darts at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) introduced H.R. 2430, the Protecting Immigrants from Legal Exploitation Act. The legislation would create penalties for those who provide fraudulent immigration legal services, allow immigrants who are victims of fraud to have their cases reconsidered under certain circumstances, and create grant programs to educate immigrants on how to avoid legal service fraud and to assist qualified non-profit organizations in providing immigrants with legal services.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Foster (D-IL) issued a statement on President Trump's declaration of a national emergency:
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on the funding deal to keep the government open:
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) introduced H.R. 1045, the Immigrant Detainee Legal Rights Act. The legislation would require immigration detention centers to inform immigrant detainees of their legal rights within five days of their arrival at the facilities. It would also require the Attorney General to develop and implement legal orientation programs in every detention center that houses immigrants.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to President Trump's State of the Union address: