A White House meeting with congressional leadership today presents lawmakers with an opportunity to forge commonsense immigration solutions.

The meeting, on day 12 of a partial government shutdown, is the latest chance for President Trump and Congress to find a compromise that boosts border security where needed and offers solutions for long-contributing immigrants whose futures are in limbo.

As Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) wrote in an op-ed today, resolving the budget impasse by “going Real Big on immigration [creating a legal immigration system that secures our borders and defines legal status for those already here] could be Trump’s Nixon-to-China, Reagan-to-the-Berlin-Wall moment in history.”

The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Republicans need to focus on constructive negotiations to end the government shutdown.

“A sensible solution can ensure our nation’s security while providing permanent legal status for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status recipients and other immigrants who have lived in uncertainty while enriching and contributing to our economy and communities.

“This shutdown is unnecessary and unsustainable. Essential Homeland Security employees are now among those working without pay, and our already swamped immigration courts are facing further backlogs.

“This new year and new Congress provide a fresh opportunity for a spirit of bipartisanship. There is a clear path forward here, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle owe it to all Americans to take it.”