Gregory Chen, Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), recently provided testimony in a Congressional hearing titled "The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Social Services". The hearing was held before the Immigration Subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary. Chen urged for a reform in the current immigration process to sustain American economic prosperity.
Chen stated, "America urgently needs solutions to modernize its immigration system, both to address the dramatic shifts in global refugee flows and to ensure the nation’s continued prosperity and economic growth." In his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives, he discussed problems with the existing immigration system in the United States and proposed several reforms.
Firstly, Chen suggested that Congress should allocate sufficient funding to federal immigration agencies for modernization, increased capacity, and improved coordination. This would ensure efficient and fair border management while addressing challenges such as delays, shortages, and trafficking operations.
Chen also advocated for government-funded legal representation for migrants who often lack understanding of immigration laws. He said, "AILA urges Congress to pass legislation that guarantees counsel paid-for by the government for people who cannot afford counsel." Furthermore, he emphasized that communities receiving migrants must be supported.
Chen also expressed AILA’s concerns about work permits. He said, "Once they can work, people will find jobs and be more able to afford housing, thus decreasing the impact on local shelters and city governments as well as their need for social services." However, he argued that there are currently long waiting periods for immigrants to receive these permits which burdens U.S. communities.
Highlighting migrants' economic contributions to the United States was another key point in Chen's testimony. He noted that undocumented individuals, refugees, and recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) pay approximately $61.2 billion in federal, state and local taxes annually. Additionally, he stated that if asylum seekers were reduced by 10%, the U.S. economy would suffer an $8.9 billion loss.
Chen's final suggestion was to expand legal avenues that align with national interest through Congressional reforms to immigration laws. He argued for a more functional system that reduces the backlog of immigrants awaiting their visas, while still emphasizing compliance with the law. Chen concluded by saying, "By harnessing immigration as a valuable resource, the United States can advance its growth and prosperity."
According to the Congressional hearing page, Chen has been involved in immigration advocacy and policy for over a decade. His previous work includes international human rights and U.S. immigration policy, particularly representation of children in legal matters. A graduate of Harvard College and NYU Law School, Chen has testified before Congress and has a background in civil rights.
