Today at the National Council of La Raza’s annual conference, John Kerry will continue to talk about his plans to open the doors of opportunity and expand access to the American Dream, including reforming America’s immigration laws.

Kerry strongly supports responsible reform of our immigration laws that honors our tradition as a nation of immigrants and that will make America stronger. Today, our immigration system is broken. Each year, hundreds seeking a better life in our country die in the desert, often at the hands of cruel smugglers. Millions within our borders live and work in hiding, in fear and often abused. President Bush came to office promising a new approach to immigration, but his failure to take real action illustrates his indifference to this issue. His immigration outline, which he still has not formally introduced, would lock immigrant workers into a second-class status, driving down wages and safety standards for all working people in America.

Kerry has a different approach. He will offer a reform bill in his first 100 days that allows immigrants to earn legalization, encourages family reunification, and strengthens our border protections. By reforming our immigration laws, Kerry will honor America’s promise and strengthen America’s economy and security. Kerry will:

Immediately Sign Two Bipartisan Reform Bills

Reward Students Who Study Hard and Play by the Rules. John Kerry strongly supports the DREAM Act, sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), which will give young people who consider the United States their home, who have worked hard in school, and have stayed out of trouble the chance to go to college and pursue their dreams. The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support and would be law today if George Bush supported it. As President, John Kerry will make it a priority to make the DREAM Act the law of the land.
Offer a Fair Deal for Farmworkers. John Kerry supports the AgJobs bill, which is sponsored by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) and has 62 Senate cosponsors. This bill will secure the rights and futures for hard-working, honorable agricultural workers and will secure a legal labor force for America’s farmers. Once again, this bill would be law today but for George Bush’s failure to support it. As President, John Kerry will make this law a reality.

Offer Immigration Reform Bill Within 100 Days
In his first hundred days, John Kerry will also offer a comprehensive immigration reform bill with four basic components. And Kerry will work tirelessly until reform has become law.

Earned Legalization. Under John Kerry’s approach, undocumented workers who have lived and worked here for 5 years, who pay taxes, and who are successfully screened for security purposes will have a path to citizenship. Kerry will also expand opportunities to learn English and obtain civic education classes to help immigrants assume all of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Reuniting Families. Kerry will eliminate the massive administrative backlog and delay that has left many families unnecessarily divided for a decade or more. Our Nation’s immigration system must be able to more quickly reunite husbands with wives, parents with children. Legal permanent residents seeking to reunify with spouses and children must be provided a fair and efficient process to do so.
Visa Program with Worker Protections. Kerry will establish a secure channel for a limited number of temporary workers to come into the United States. To protect all working people in the United States, Kerry will ensure that these temporary workers have the protections of U.S. employment and labor laws, including fair wage protections. These protections must be rigorously enforced.
Stronger Border Security. As an integral part of his reform, John Kerry will reach an accord with neighboring countries to improve security along our borders and stop illegal smuggling. He will improve our nation’s security databases and watchlists and better control the borders to ensure that people who intend to harm us cannot cross our borders.

Source: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/ (John Kerry for President)