Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, our Senior Fellow, testified before Congress to highlight the critical economic contributions immigrants make in the U.S. and the pressing need to address the underfunded and outdated humanitarian protection system.

In his testimony, Aaron outlined:

• The significant economic impact of immigrants, including refugees, undocumented immigrants, TPS beneficiaries, and their families.

• The urgent need for a faster process for immigrants to obtain work authorization so they can quickly contribute to the workforce and support themselves.

• How our outdated 20th-century asylum system hinders migrants' ability to achieve self-sufficiency.

• The misalignment of spending priorities, with immigration enforcement receiving more attention than immigration adjudication, resulting in extensive backlogs.

Aaron concluded that Congress' failure to adequately fund humanitarian adjudication systems and support local communities has stunted economic growth and imposed unnecessary fiscal burdens. He emphasized that Congress holds the power to transform the situation at the border by updating immigration laws and investing in a modern humanitarian protection system.

Watch Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council testify before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee