Comprehensive Immigration Reform

OneAmerica Votes believes that our immigration system is broken and the only way to fix it is by passing comprehensive reform on the federal level. While “immigration reform” has different meanings to different people, “immigration reform” to OneAmerica Votes means a sensible set of policies that comprehensively addresses the root causes of our broken immigration system, including:

1. Creating a clear and earned path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants;

2. Clearing immigration backlogs, so that millions of family members who have filed legal applications can be processed and reunited;

3. Ensuring a future flow of workers that has full worker rights and labor protections;

4. Ensuring due process and fundamental rights for all;

5. Promoting immigrant integration; and

6. Enhancing our nation’s security and safety with a sensible enforcement policy.

Immigrant Integration

OneAmerica Votes believes that immigrant communities are essential to the social, economic and civic fabric of our nation. In order to maximize the talents of immigrants in Washington State and the U.S., we must make strategic investments in the knowledge and skills of our foreign-born residents. Essential among these investments are immigrant integration programs and policies, including English language learning opportunities, citizenship classes, adult education, professional re-certification and other programs that provide services tailored to maximizing the potential of every new American.

Public Safety

OneAmerica Votes believes that our communities are safest when trust exists between local law enforcement and residents. Consequently, OneAmerica Votes opposes any efforts to expand the enforcement of federal immigration laws to local law enforcement. Local law enforcement’s participation in federal immigration enforcement drives a wedge between immigrant communities and local police, undermines trust and community policing efforts, and takes scarce local resources away from where they should be targeted—on efforts to promote public safety and apprehend the most dangerous criminals.

Language Access

OneAmerica Votes believes that programs and policies that expand language access are vital to the health, safety and wellbeing of our communities. Whether translation of important state and local documents or medical interpreter services at hospitals, policies in Washington State and across the country should be built on inclusion and reflect the values of access and opportunity for all.

E-Verify

OneAmerica Votes believes that policies should be practical, evidence-based and reflect current economic and social realities. E-verify is an internet-based employment eligibility verification system used by some businesses to check the work eligibility of employees. The database is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). While proponents claim e-verify will eliminate the hiring of unauthorized workers, numerous studies have shown that the system is riddled with database errors, resulting in delays or rejection of eligible U.S. Citizens and lawful permanent residents; costly for small businesses; and may result in discriminatory hiring practices. This, coupled with current economic and social realities, means that E-verify is bad for business and wrong for Washington.

Civil and Human Rights

OneAmerica Votes was founded on the principles of democracy and justice for all. Accordingly, we believe strongly in upholding the civil and human rights of all people and in fighting discriminatory policies that result in racial profiling and other violations of basic rights. Racial profiling is the use of race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin by law enforcement agents as a factor in deciding who to investigate, arrest, or detain, except where these characteristics are part of a specific suspect description. It is a degrading practice and continues largely unchecked, violating the human and civil rights of those targeted. OneAmerica Votes supports all efforts to fight racial profiling and to promote understanding and justice among all people and communities.