Immigration Reform Should Work to Keep Families Together

The Family Is the Bedrock of American Society.
Our immigration system must keep families together. Families sometimes wait 10, 15 or even 20
years to be reunited. Our faiths teach us that families are sacred and serve as the bedrock of our
communities. Separating husbands from wives, sisters from brothers, and children from parents
for years creates unnecessary suffering and has a harmful effect on the well being of our
communities. People waiting for approval are not allowed to visit the United States, meaning they
are not allowed to see their family members for the years they are waiting. A system that keeps
family members separate hurts everyone, because the family is the basic unit of our society, and
everything falls apart without it. Our laws should reflect our values.