The Houston Coalition for Immigration Reform represents a coalition of faith communities, legal experts, civic leaders, community agencies and business organizations across the theological and political spectrum united in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Despite our diverse views on many issues, we share common moral principles that compel us to work together for the care and well being of immigrants, including the following:

We believe That all people, regardless of national origin or the status of their paper work, deserve to be treated with love, dignity and respect.

We believe There is a basic human responsibility to care for the most vulnerable in our community, including undocumented immigrants.

We believe In the rule of law, but we also believe that we are to work to change unjust laws and systems in order to assure that the law serves our communities effectively and justly.

Responsive and Visionary Policies

Comprehensive Reform must develop a responsive legal framework that addresses immigration now and in the future by dealing effectively with:

• Undocumented immigrants working and living in the United States;
• the future demand and movement of workers and their close family members.

Sanctity of the Family

Reforms in our immigration system that respect the sanctity and unity of families by working to:

• Reduce the waiting time for separated families to be safely reunited
• Protect children from the threat of losing their parents
• Protect husbands and wives from the threat of losing their spouses to deportation.

Healthy and Strong Borders

Border enforcement and protection initiatives need to both empower the authorities to justly enforce the law and also respect the human dignity of those attempting to immigrate to the US

Preventative Healthcare Provisions and Educational Incentives for Children

Due to the vulnerability of immigrant children, legislation must intentionally work to provide for their protection and well being. Preventative healthcare and incentives for education not only protects the most vulnerable, it works for the benefit and future flourishing of the nation as whole by safeguarding one of the greatest advantages of immigration which is the potential and gifting of immigrant children

Worker Protection

A viable guest worker program that creates legal avenues for workers and their families to enter the country and work in a safe, legal, and orderly manner with their rights and due process fully protected; the program should be structured with an opportunity for workers to gain permanent legal residence following the completion of their worker program visa.

The Houston Coalition for Immigration Reform believes that the future health and well being of our nation is directly related to the health and well being of our immigration system. Immigration Reform that incorporates these elements strengthens the vitality of the U.S. and advances the common good. As leaders who serve the Houston Metropolitan area, we stand together in calling the president and Congress to enact humane and holistic immigration reform as soon as possible.

Our Mission:The Houston Coalition for Immigration Reform exists to facilitate collaboration between organizations and communities seeking to bring reform to a broken immigration system by building bridges between business interests, legal specialists, non-profit organizations and faith communities.