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Meng signs letter urging senate to protect family sponsored immigration

March 14, 2013
In light of recent comments attacking the need for certain categories of family immigration visas, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) signed a letter of concern to the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” and Senate Leadership urging them to preserve family-sponsored immigration to the United States. The letter was sent by members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), of which Meng is a member.
 
“While I am encouraged by the national discussion our country is having about comprehensive immigration reform, I have great concerns about the threat to U.S. citizens no longer being able to sponsor
their family members for legal permanent residence,” said Meng. “I urge Senators involved in negotiations to keep our family-based immigration system in place.”
 
A copy of the letter can be read here.
 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are disproportionately impacted by family immigration backlogs. Of the 4.3 million people in line, 1.8 million are of Asian or Pacific Islander origin. The Philippines, Vietnam, India, China, Pakistan, South Korea, and Bangladesh rank among the top ten countries with the largest number of siblings and married children awaiting immigration visas. U.S. citizens sponsoring a sibling in the Philippines have waited 24 years to be reunited with their families.
Issues:Immigration