Comprehensive Immigration Reform, A.S.A.P.
by Rep. Luis Gutierrez
The Huffington Post
December 14, 2009
Tomorrow, December 15, I will join the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and my colleagues in the House of Representatives in introducing a progressive, compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform bill.
Every single day in America, families are being divided. Over the past year, I’ve traveled across the country with my colleagues conducting something called the United Families (“Familias Unidas”) tour. In twenty-four cities across the country, we heard from families who were being ripped apart by the current system. We’ve heard stories from a father dying from cancer whose wife faced deportation. We’ve heard from American citizen children who are faced with choosing between their parents and a college education.
This is a crisis. It’s a crisis of human and civil rights, it’s a crisis of our economy and our workforce, and it’s a crisis of national security. This is why we cannot wait any longer. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009 is a solution that we, as a nation of immigrants, can be proud of.
We’ve waited a long time for this — a workable solution to our immigration crisis.
We’ve waited for laws that don’t stop at securing our border, but go further to secure our economy, protect our workforce and recognize the proud tradition of immigrants seeking the American Dream. We’ve waited for it to be taken up by this Congress and our President. And the time for waiting is over.
Our bill will be presented before Congress heads home for the holidays so that there is no excuse for inaction in the New Year…
…The American people elected us to solve problems like this – and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.
The Congressman’s article continues at The Huffington Post.
