The Forum began in 1930 as the American Immigration Conference, a coalition of immigration-related groups that sought more reasoned and equitable alternatives to the national origins quota system of the time. Since its establishment and through its many iterations, the Forum has remained an important partner in encouraging and helping craft responsible immigration policies.
Throughout the last decades of the 20th century, the Forum worked alongside a variety of partners to align immigration reform and American values with the economic needs of the country. In the 1980s, the Forum — then the National Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Forum — was vital in bringing together what would become the bipartisan Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Today, the Forum continues to focus on bringing together people of all backgrounds with the common goal of advancing sound federal immigration solutions that strengthen American communities while valuing the humanity of immigrants. Through communications outreach, policy engagement, workforce and citizenship programs, and coalition building, the Forum continues to light the way toward balanced immigration solutions.
Our work is centered around four overarching priority concerns:
- Immigration Reform and Workforce Needs – Shaping the policies necessary to make our immigration system serve the national interest, meeting the needs of our economy, workers, and families.
- Integration and Citizenship – Creating the opportunities necessary for immigrants to succeed and contribute to the growth and prosperity of America.
- Borders and Interior Enforcement – Developing fiscally responsible and humane policies that protect America and promote commerce, while respecting the rights of workers and employers, families, and communities.
- State and Local Immigration Developments – Promoting the principle that immigration law and enforcement are federal responsibilities.
Ultimately, we seek to bridge policy and politics to create the solutions necessary for our country and all its residents to prosper.