HR 104 (LSB 5200YH (4) 90)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 104

BY  JACOBY

A Resolution calling on the United States congressional delegation from Iowa to support federal protections for children of long-term visa holders.

   WHEREAS, more than 250,000 individuals living in the United States are children of legal immigrants who were brought to the United States lawfully at an average age of five and have been raised and educated in our country; and
   WHEREAS, these individuals represent the very essence of the American experience, grow up in the United States, and attend American schools and universities; and
   WHEREAS, barriers in our immigration system prevent many legal immigrants from obtaining permanent residency status, and these legal immigrants live, work, create jobs, and raise families on long-term work visas or small business visas; and
   WHEREAS, these barriers result in the children of these long-term visa holders losing their lawful status upon their 21st birthday, at which time they lose their opportunity to receive a green card with their family and are expected to self-deport with their previous time spent in the country rendered useless in the eyes of America’s immigration system; and
   WHEREAS, if no action is taken to address this issue, it may eventually force over 250,000 individuals to self-deport, including approximately 1,000 individuals from the state of Iowa; and
   WHEREAS, the United States Congress has heard testimony through congressional hearings from two Iowans impacted by this issue; and
   WHEREAS, these immigration policies drive a significant loss in human capital in Iowa, harming long-term domestic, economic, and security interests; and
   WHEREAS, workforce shortages in Iowa, especially in health care and the sciences, demand the skills and talents of children of long-term visa holders, 87 percent of whom are in the health care and science fields; and
   WHEREAS, numerous employers, organizations, businesses, community leaders, faith leaders, mayors, law enforcement officers, and former national security officials on a bipartisan basis have recognized the importance of the children of long-term visa holders to Iowa’s economic interests; and
   WHEREAS, the American Action Forum estimates the economic cost of compelling hundreds of thousands of children of long-term visa holders who have received the investment of American public education and public service resources to self-deport exceeds $30 billion; and
   WHEREAS, the interests of the Iowa General Assembly should be reflected in the priorities of our representatives in state and federal government; and
   WHEREAS, the United States Congress has introduced the bipartisan America’s Children Act (H.R. 3442) and the Protecting Children of Long-Term Visa Holders Act (S. 1667) to ensure that children of long-term visa holders who have been raised and educated in America can remain in this country upon their 21st birthday; and
   WHEREAS, the Honorable Joni Ernst, United States Senator, and the Honorable Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Randy Feenstra, United States Representatives, have shown their commitment to the people of Iowa by cosponsoring the legislation; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the residents of Iowa extend their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to their elected officials for their support and sponsorship of the legislation. Their dedication to the welfare and interests of the people of Iowa is commendable, and their actions exemplify true representation in the United States Congress; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urges the Iowa congressional delegation to actively support and work toward passing the bipartisan legislation, which aims to break down barriers for children of long-term employment-based visa holders who have been lawfully brought to America, and raised and educated in this country. The Iowa General Assembly also urges the Iowa congressional delegation to support inclusion of any provisions in the end-of-year bills to provide protections for these children of long-term visa holders; and
   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives authorizes and directs that copies of this resolution be sent to each member of the United States congressional delegation for Iowa.