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.
As Republicans continue to threaten another shutdown showdown, we wanted to make sure you saw today’s editorial in the New York Times:
While House Republicans are busy criticizing the President’s decision to take action on immigration, maybe they should take a harder look at themselves. Take it away, Senator Graham:
“‘Shame on us as Republicans for having a body that cannot generate a solution to an issue that’s national security, that’s cultural, that’s economic,’ Graham said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’”
Yesterday, President Obama announced executive actions he will take to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.
Everybody, including [Speaker] John Boehner recognizes the immigration system is broken.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after President Obama announced the executive actions he will take to fix our nation's broken immigration system:
Surprise, surprise: Republicans’ shutdown threats are still making headlines. Despite strong bipartisan support for fixing our nation’s broken immigration system and overwhelming agreement that shutting down the government isn’t good policy, a look at the stories today shows the GOP continues to consider shutting down the government a viable option:
This is about helping people. This is about doing what, from a humanitarian standpoint and moral standpoint, is right. This is about doing what is economically for our country what is right and [the Congressional Budget Office] says will help our economy.
I don't think we ought to ignore Republicans at all. They're in the majority, both in the Senate and House in the next Congress, and they're a very important player. The President, as [Senator] Mitch McConnell indicates, is a very important player, and we democrats are going to participate.
As you know, about 18 months ago the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill, supported by the Chamber of Commerce, by the AFL-CIO, by growers and farm workers, and faith groups. It had broad support.