CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) APPLAUDS PRESIDENT'S RENEWED COMMITMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
July 1, 2010
(Washington, DC)- Today, during a speech at American University, President Barack Obama laid out a strong case for comprehensive immigration reform. Calling on the nation to remember the millions of immigrants that broke their backs to build our country, he stressed that fixing our broken system not only makes us safer, but gives us an economic advantage in today’s global economy.
“Immigrants are vital to the future of our nation’s economic security,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Chairwoman of the CHC. “Their drive to succeed strengthens America’s entrepreneurial spirit and their relative young age accelerates the growth of our economy. A diverse workforce also gives our economy a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.”
The President’s call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform is made even more critical because of faulty proposals like SB 1070 in Arizona and the 20 other states that are contemplating similar measures.
"Fifty different state policies on immigration will only lead to more chaos and we heed the President’s call to push a national, federal, and American solution to this problem. We sincerely hope Congressional Republicans will work with the CHC and Democrats in Congress to answer our nation’s call for comprehensive immigration reform,” said Velázquez.
The most recent attempt to pass an immigration reform bill garnered bipartisan support. Eleven of the 23 Republican Senators who voted for a bipartisan bill in 2006 are still in the Senate and we hope they join us and rally behind a true solution.
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act (HR 4321,) introduced by Congressman Solomon Ortiz, Dean of the CHC, has over 100 co-sponsors in the House. It secures the border, puts an end to illegal immigration, makes immigrants who are illegally present register with the government, learn English and pay taxes, and creates a system of rules that both employers and immigrants are required to follow.
“I’m encouraged by the President’s words. I think he really is committed to the issue, and we have to work on the politics on Capitol Hill. We can fix our immigration system and secure the border, but we need Republicans working with us, not against us" said Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Chair of the CHC’s Immigration Task Force.
###