House Republican Leadership Disappoints with Message on Immigration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 10, 2013

CONTACTS:
George Tzamaras 202-507-7649 gtzamaras@aila.org	Belle Woods 202-507-7675 bwoods@aila.org

Washington, DC - Today, the House of Representatives' Republican caucus met to discuss prospects for immigration reform. The leadership then released a statement that rejects the bipartisan, compromise bill the Senate passed two weeks ago.

"The Senate bill, while far from perfect, was approved by more than two-thirds of the Senate and would have been the right starting point for the House. It is a shame that they have chosen a fractured, incomplete approach-an approach that, to date, has failed to address the estimated 11 million people living undocumented in this country. Nevertheless, perhaps the process of reform still can be salvaged if the House pursues a more balanced approach," said Doug Stump, AILA President.

"House leadership has thus far disappointed American businesses, families, and communities, by bringing forth either hostile bills on immigration or bills that, standing alone, do not provide the balance needed to make our immigration system work. These narrowly-focused bills are not sufficient. The House should either craft its own bipartisan, common-sense reform bill or take up the Senate bill which contains the essential elements of immigration reform that AILA has long supported: legalization with a path to citizenship for the undocumented, reforms to the family and business immigration system, and components for enforcement and border security. Failing that, it needs to ensure that all the key elements of reform are covered in the pieces that it moves forward. Our country deserves at least that," concluded Mr. Stump.

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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.

Cite as AILA Doc. No. 13071061.