Immigration Policy Center

Although immigration issues have risen in prominence in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9-11, President Bush has placed immigration policy high on the national agenda with his recent proposals to reform our basic immigration laws. Because American immigration policy has always been of special concern to the Jewish community, JSPAN has initiated a Policy Center to examine current immigration policies and propose revisions. JSPAN’s interest in immigration law and policy is rooted in the repeated Biblical command to remember that "you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

JSPAN adopted general principles on immigration to support. These include, but are not limited to, expedient family unification and the creation of legal avenues for workers who wish to migrate to the United States in an orderly manner. It would include border protection policies that are consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals with respect even while preventing their illegal entry. We believe that those undocumented immigrants currently in the country should have a legal road to permanent residency and citizenship. JSPAN also joined the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition. If you have an interest in serving on the Immigration Policy Center or have ideas for the Immigration Policy Center to consider, please send an email to jspan@jspan.org.

JSPAN board member Lazar Kleit is the policy chair.

The Immigration Policy Center is advised by three acknowledged experts in the field:

• Ron Klasko is a Philadelphia attorney who is also a former national president and three-term General Counsel of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
• Judi Bernstein-Baker, Executive Director of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and Council Migration in Philadelphia.
• Eleanor Pelta is a Washington attorney who serves on the Board of Governors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and is a Trustee of the American Immigration Law Foundation.

• Take Action for Comprehensive Immigration Reform