OECD's Gurria congratulates President Obama on taking action to address the unsustainable situation of undocumented immigrants | WPN World People News

On the occasion of the OECD High Level Policy Forum on Migration taking place on December 1 and 2 2014, Secretary-General Angel Gurria congratulates President Obama on taking action to address the unsustainable situation of undocumented immigrants. “A consensus approach to migration policy in the United States is needed. The 2013 compromise bill passed by the US Senate was a significant step forward in addressing the shortcomings of current policies,” he said. “Thanks to this initiative, millions of people will be able to breathe easier over the holiday season, and millions of workers will be able to come out of the shadows. It is an important step for the American economy and society. Let us not forget that the United States is a country that was built by immigrants. Without their contribution, the US economy would be less competitive. Migrant households in the US contribute more in taxes than they receive in benefits.”

“There is still, however, much work to do to find a long-term, sustainable solution. Everyone agrees that US immigration policy needs reform. The status quo fails the American economy, migrants themselves and the rest of the American public. The undocumented population currently stands at over 11 million and even after the executive order is implemented, many will remain outside a legal framework of rights and responsibilities and this is not sustainable” Angel Gurria said.

He joined President Obama in calling on Congress to pass a comprehensive reform of immigration in the United States which should address the following three points:

● Legal migration channels should be better linked to the economic needs of the US economy;

● A fair solution should be found for those undocumented residents who are successfully integrated;

● Control and compliance should be strengthened to prevent further irregular migration and illegal employment of foreigners.

Source: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development