Garcia Recognizes One Year Since Passage of Senate Version of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

 
 

Congressman Garcia press release

A year ago today, the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill with broad bipartisan support. In honor of that date, yesterday [June 26, 2014], Rep. Garcia, along with several colleagues, held a press conference to highlight the House’s long inaction and discuss the need for a vote.

“It is disappointing that in 365 days, this body has done nothing but find excuses” said Garcia. “We need to stop with the finger-pointing and start governing.

“If we had passed immigration reform, we would have taken care of the people who are already here and directed resources to the criminals, traffickers, and people who wish to do this nation harm.  We would have a comprehensive strategy at the border, so that we could stop throwing money at the problem and militarizing border communities. And we would have an immigration system that meets the needs of our economy, instead of ceding ground to competing nations.”

The Press Conference was held on the heels of the latest immigration reform crisis as thousands of unaccompanied immigrant minors cross the Southwest border. Over the last several months, waves of children have been sent to the US fleeing violent conditions in Central America.

For months, national leaders, immigrant groups, and others, have pled with Congress to bring immigration reform to the floor for a vote. Despite several attempts, including a discharge petition led by Congressman Garcia, the issue has stalled.

“Inaction is what got us to this place. For too long, our nation has cried out for comprehensive immigration reform that restores confidence in who we are as a people – by and large, a nation of immigrants.

“Together, we must work to find bipartisan solutions that address our broken immigration system,” urged Garcia.

Studies have shown that establishing common sense immigration solutions that address our antiquated policies will create jobs, empower small business, fuel innovation, raise wages, reduce the deficit by nearly $1 trillion, and energize our economy.

Congressman Garcia has long been a leader on this topic,  introducing  a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, HR 15, late last year, as well as making a continuous call on Congress to vote on this issue.