Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Washington, DC - The President, speaking few weeks ago at the Esperanza USA National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform as "a fair, practical and promising way forward." Next week (6/25), the President is slated to meet with Congressional leaders in both parties to discuss ways to move forward on immigration reform. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, a non-partisan, non-profit pro-immigrant advocacy organization in Washington.

Having the President firmly committed to comprehensive immigration reform puts pressure on Congress to act and move us forward on this issue. The President wants reform, the American people want reform, now it's time for Congress to catch up with the voters and pass a bill.

Comprehensive immigration reform that gets immigrants into the system and holds employers accountable will be a much easier lift for Congress that many people think because there is such consensus among the American people. The small knot of advocacy groups, broadcasters, and lawmakers who still hold out for the fantasy of mass expulsion or mass deportation of 12,000,000 people illegally in the country has dwindled. These opponents of reform will find it much more difficult to block progress towards a solution on immigration this time around.

Until Congress deals with immigration - makes taxpayers out of all immigrants, makes all employers follow the rules, and creates a functioning legal immigration system - everything else on the President's domestic agenda is vulnerable to being dragged down by failing to face reality about the presence of 12,000,000 undocumented immigrants. They are here, they are staying, and band-aids and symbolic gestures are not enough. Delaying action will only allow things to get worse.

Now is the time, this is the year, and this is the moment for a popular President to work with Congress to address a national issue in a way that benefits the American people and our economy.