How many people have families with at least one undocumented immigrant?

Millions of American families are comprised of people with varied immigration and citizenship status. They're known as "mixed status families." Some family members are born in the U.S., others are naturalized citizens and others might have permanent residency or visas while others are undocumented.

There is a common misconception that authorized immigration status is just a matter of "getting in line" when the reality is that for some families, there is no line to get in. Many live under the threat of being separated by deportation, and others are waiting for decades to reunite.

As Americans we value family unity. Our current immigration system is failing families in our communities. We have to get the conversation on a productive track and understand what the actual challenges are for people who want to be officially recognized by the country they call home. How we treat new immigrants reflects our commitment to the values that define us as Americans. We believe that families should stick together, that we should look out for each other, and that hard work should be rewarded. It's not about what you look like or where you were born that makes you American - it's how you live your life and what you do that defines you here in this country. That's why all Americans who love this country very much deserve a common sense immigration process, one that includes a roadmap for people who aspire to be citizens.