Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we recognize the contributions made by Americans who came to this country from all over the world to make a new home and pursue the American Dream. That’s why House Democrats continue to work for common sense, comprehensive, and balanced immigration reform: reform that secures our borders, respects the rule of law, and provides immigrants with a fair chance of achieving the American Dream. We believe that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should have a chance at building a future here in America. Comprehensive immigration reform would be good for the American economy and help our fiscal outlook. House Democrats have worked to establish a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and T.P.S. and D.E.D. status holders by twice-passing the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, which Republicans continue to obstruct in the Senate. House Democrats also passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to reform the H-2A guestworker program to allow those contributing to our agricultural economy to remain in America. President Biden has taken action to restore the DACA program, end wasteful spending on an ineffective border wall, and reaffirm America’s values. Democrats will continue to partner with the Biden Administration to help Dreamers, fix American’s broken immigration system and ensure that it strengthens America and grows our economy.
A look at today’s headlines shows that Republicans remain deeply divided over how to fund the Department of Homeland Security as we near the February 27 deadline (we know you’re completely shocked). Instead of recognizing the obvious solution to their self-imposed impasse (a clean DHS funding bill), House and Senate Republicans are more focused on passing the buck than taking action.
With only 8 legislative days left until the Department of Homeland Security runs out of funding, House Republicans continue to hold our national security hostage to their political agenda.
There really is no controversy with respect to the funding of the Homeland Security Department.
On Monday, the President released his budget for Fiscal Year 2016. His budget proposal builds on the strength of our economic recovery to make smart investments that will increase our nation’s competitiveness, while ensuring that working families share in the benefits of the recovery.
This week, Republican dysfunction on immigration is on full display.
Republicans have controlled both the House and the Senate for four weeks, and their record shows that they have focused on extreme, partisan legislation rather than taking action to help the middle class and all those who aspire to it.
Even though pressure continues to mount for Republicans to pass a clean DHS funding bill that will keep our communities safe and secure, they are “increasingly unworried” about shutting down DHS. If they think that's a good strategy, they should read the letter sent by three former DHS secretaries who warn that the GOP’s political games could put our national security at risk.
I am very disappointed that the House Republican Majority plans to bring to the Floor next week legislation that would undermine efforts to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, and I will be whipping against it.
This evening, President Obama laid out a vision of an America that prioritizes a strong and growing middle class.
Yesterday, House Republicans put national security at risk by attaching draconian, anti-immigrant amendments to a DHS funding bill. However, 26 House Republicans opposed their own party’s partisan attempts to tear families apart and had some harsh words for their colleagues: