This document argues that the United States urgently needs comprehensive immigration reform after decades of congressional inaction. The current system is described as outdated, dysfunctional, and harmful to national security, economic growth, the rule of law, and American values. The authors contend that effective reform must balance border security, fair enforcement, humanitarian protections, and expanded legal pathways. The proposal rests on four core pillars. First, it calls for strengthening border security through a combination of barriers, modern technology, additional personnel, and upgraded ports of entry. These measures are intended to deter unauthorized crossings, fully vet all entrants, disrupt smuggling networks, and facilitate lawful trade and travel. Second, the report seeks to overhaul the asylum system, which it argues has been widely misused. It proposes faster, stricter, and more orderly asylum adjudication at the border, with decisions completed within 30 days. Applicants would generally be required to apply at ports of entry, meet higher evidentiary standards, and remain near the border during processing. At the same time, the plan aims to better protect genuine victims of persecution and strengthen the refugee admissions program as the primary humanitarian pathway. Third, the report calls for modernizing legal immigration to boost economic growth, protect American workers, and preserve family unity. Recommendations include expanding work-based and family-based visas, reducing backlogs, retaining U.S.-educated graduates, and introducing a targeted points-based system aligned with labor market needs. Finally, the authors advocate for a secure, earned pathway to citizenship for longtime undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for over a decade, passed background checks, paid taxes, and contributed to their communities. The report concludes that comprehensive reform is both a moral imperative and an economic necessity to ensure America’s long-term prosperity and security.
A New Immigration System to safeguard America’s Security, Expand Economic Growth, and Make Us Stronger,
Center for American Progress, July 2025, 18 pp.
Authors: Neera Tanden & Debu Gandhi