Undocumented Immigrants “Need to Be Made Part of Our Social Fabric.” @Bucknellu #Immigration Expert on Reform in America

Newswise — Bucknell University Assistant Professor of Sociology Elizabeth Durden holds a doctorate in sociology and demography and is an expert on immigration and related issues. Her recent work exploring anti-immigration legislation at the state level has just been accepted for publication by the journal Migration Studies. Dr. Durden is available to discuss the immigration reform legislation currently before the U.S. Senate.

Quotes:"The United States' economic competitiveness largely relies on immigrant labor, both documented and undocumented. Immigration reform will allow us to bring these skilled and unskilled laborers more into our economy. The visa and legalization system needs to be modernized in this country, and that will benefit both the engineers as well as the service-sector workers, which will benefit our overall economy.

There's also a moral argument to be made for immigration reform. We have more than 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows in the United States. They're the parents of American citizens, and they need to be made part of our social fabric."

"While arguments are made against immigration reform, and immigrants themselves, it's just really hard for me to take them seriously. We are a nation of immigrants. That is our core identity, and they're also a part of our economic and social fabric. They're here and they're not going anywhere, so dealing with immigration reform is just dealing with the issues that are in front of us."

"While the proposal put forth by the "Gang of Eight" is not perfect, it's a solid proposal that has a real chance of passing. And the reason that it has a real chance of passing is because of the tough compromises that it's making within the bill. So, for example, the pathway to citizenship is dependent on over a decade-long waiting period, there are a series of fines that have to be paid, English has to be demonstrated, a knowledge of English has to be demonstrated. These are compromises, these are requirements that many immigration advocates are not happy about. But it's because of these stringent requirements that may allow conservatives to get behind the proposal, and ultimately will allow it to be signed into law."

Please note:To arrange a live or pre-recorded broadcast interview, please call Andy Hirsch, director of media communications, at 570-238-1561.