Governor Bruce Rauner, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, Archbishop Blase Cupich and other Republican leaders proposed an immigration reform plan Monday that would expand visas for high-skilled, low-skilled, and agricultural workers.
“We must find a way together to get comprehensive immigration reform done and encourage hardworking honest families who want to be part of our community to become American citizens,” Rauner said during an event at St. Ignatius College Prep.
The proposal would also create a path to citizenship and legalization for undocumented immigrants who are already living in the states.
“Comprehensive immigration reform is imperative to ensuring the 525,000 people in Illinois can come out of the shadows, put down permanent roots and invest in Illinois,” said Senator Mark Kirk.
Monday’s event was hosted by the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition. The mission is to motivate lawmakers on Capitol Hill to get the ball rolling on immigration reform.
"Comprehensive immigration reform is not just about rights of individuals but the good of families, and because it is about the good of families, it is about the good of neighborhoods and cities. It is also not just about the people who are undocumented but the moral values of a nation," said Archbishop Cupich.
According to a press release sent by IBIC, immigration reform would create 105,923 jobs in Illinois and boost the state’s economic output by $1.8 billion.
