Section 249(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act was amended in 1986 during the Reagan administration to provides a pathway to lawful permanent residence (LPR) for qualifying longtime undocumented immigrants.

Today, this pathway is no longer available to long-time immigrants if they cannot show that they entered the United States “prior to January 1, 1972.”

We learn that Rep. Lou Corea, D-Calif., headlines a group of Democrats from California, New York and Illinois that plans to reintroduce the "Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929" bill.

I agree with Congressmen who state Congress should bring section 249(a) up to date by replacing the January 1, 1972 date with a more recent entry date — such as June 15, 2007 (the date familiar to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACAs). If the new date is fixed this would be a simple change in the immigration law with a broad humanitarian impact.

As I have suggested in previous letters this update should receive broad bipartisan ACCEPTANCE by the business community and lawmakers because thousands of undocumented residents could attain LPR status and employment authorization through the application process.

It is encouraging that members of Congress are focusing on restoring section 249(a) of the Act.

Robert Kim Bingham, Sr.

Salem