April 22, 2010 12:58PM 

# Three Steps to Comprehensive Immigration Reform 

By [Daniel Griswold](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-griswold) 

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Congress can and should pass comprehensive immigration reform in 2010. Any legislation worthy of the name would:

1) offer legalization to undocumented workers who have been here for several years, pass a security check, and pay a reasonable fine and back taxes;

2) create [a temporary-visa program](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8142) sufficient to meet future labor needs of a growing economy; and

3) enforce the law against those who still insist on working outside the system, but [in a way that does not restrict the freedom of American citizens](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9256).

Reform would reduce illegal immigration by offering a legal alternative. It would tighten border security by allowing U.S. agents to focus on intercepting real criminals and terrorists, not dishwashers and gardeners. And it would [expand output, investment, and job opportunities for middle-class Americans](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10650). Polls show a majority of Americans will accept the three-fold approach to reform. Recent elections confirm that support for reform is a modest plus with swing voters, and a huge plus with Hispanics.

This is an issue where both major parties can work together to fix our immigration system in a way that boosts the economy, enhances security, and expands liberty.

For more, see [Cato’s research on immigration](https://www.cato.org/immigration).

##### Related Tags 

[Trade Policy](https://www.cato.org/trade-policy), [Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies](https://www.cato.org/herbert-stiefel-center-trade-policy-studies) 

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