• info@belibre.org

Deadlines Will Hurt Prospects for Immigration Reform

PRINTABLE VERSION

Deadlines Will Hurt Prospects for Immigration Reform 

(Washington, D.C.) – Senate Democratic leaders recently issued a "deadline" for the House of Representatives to pass immigration reform legislation, after which the White House will take unilateral action to make changes to U.S. immigration policy. According to these leaders, the House must act by July 31, or the president will use executive action to implement reforms. These changes could be subject to legal challenges, or could be reversed by future presidential action. As a result, any such reforms would be less reliable than legislation passed by Congress and signed into law. Talk of unilateral action from the administration also makes it harder to pass reform legislation, for a variety of reasons

Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement: 

"There's no question that Americans in general – and the immigrant community in particular – is better served by an open legislative process that leads to clearly defined immigration policies with broad public support. When the House and Senate come together on broad reform – and the President signs it into law – these improvements will be more lasting than changes that come from nothing more than the pen of a president with a limited term.
 
With that in mind, it's more important than ever that advocates for reform on both sides make it easier – not harder – to reach across the aisle to build trust for action. Congressional Republicans need to recognize that action is essential – and there is no better time than now. But as we wait for reform proposals to advance, deadlines and political challenges will hurt, not help those efforts. With an opportunity for action this year, members on both sides of the aisle need to put aside political goals and work on what can be achieved to enact reforms that improve our economy and fix out broken immigration system." 

Through the ESTAMOS CONTIGO (We are With You) campaign for immigration reform, the LIBRE Initiative is providing an avenue for constituents to reach out to their Senators and Representative in Congress to work together to pass immigration reform legislation that is employment-based and market-driven. Read more about LIBRE's Statement of Principles on Immigration Reform

For interviews with a LIBRE representative, please contact: Brian Faughnan , 703-678-4581 or Steven Cruz, 202-578-6173.

###