Urges President Bush to Rise Above Rhetoric Toward Action
Washington, DC (August 3, 2006) – Today, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) again called for the United States Congress to pass real, long-lasting, and comprehensive immigration reform before the end of this Congressional session. Following a speech made by President George W. Bush in Mission, TX this afternoon, Congressman Hinojosa urged his colleagues from both sides of the aisle to reconcile differences between the House immigration bill passed last year, and the Senate version passed earlier this year when Congress reconvenes after the August recess.
“Today, President Bush again pushed for comprehensive immigration reform, and I echo this sentiment,” said Hinojosa. “For the first time in nearly six years, the President the Rio Grande Valley and saw first hand that not only are our communities’ cultures so closely intertwined with our southern neighbors, but so is our economy. To pass an enforcement only approach that does nothing to address the estimated 12 million people who are already here would devastate the country.”
In December 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4437, the so-called “Sensenbrenner Bill.” This bill would: make it harder for legal immigrants to become U.S. citizens; make everyone who comes to the U.S. to work subject not only to deportation but also imprisonment; and, disrupt the economy by creating an overly broad and retroactive employment verification system without creating legal channels for needed workers to work lawfully.
“In Texas, we live on the front lines of the immigration issue,” Hinojosa continued. “While our schools, hospitals, law enforcement, and social services are being stretched to the limits, we have experienced a surge in economic activity and growth. Immigration is both a challenge and an engine for growth. We need laws that are up to the challenge rather than those that are not reality based and do nothing to fix our broken immigration system.”
In May 2006, the U.S. Senate passed S.2611. The “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006” creates border security and enforcement provisions, including: biometric data enhancements, a National Strategy for Border Security, and mandatory detention of illegal immigrants apprehended at ports of entry; creates interior enforcement provisions; makes it unlawful to hire or recruit undocumented workers; establishes a temporary guest worker program; reunites families; and authorizes the DREAM Act.
“The President has long called for comprehensive immigration reform that is fair and lawful,” said Hinojosa. “It is my hope that we can move beyond speeches, political sound bites, and smoke and mirror field hearings, and get down to business. Our border communities want real immigration reform; our nation wants real immigration reform. I hope the President takes this message back to Washington and urges the House and Senate conferees to listen to the voices of the American people.”
To date, the House and Senate conferees have yet to meet to reconcile these differences. If they fail to reach an agreement, both bills die in this Congress, and the issue will need to be revisited in the 110th Congressional Session.