Udall Welcomes Passage of Historic Plan to Fix Broken Immigration System, Strengthen Economy, Improve Border Security
'Today Senators from Both Parties Found Common Ground. ? Now it's Time for the U.S. House of Representatives to Act.'
Mark Udall, a longtime, strong advocate for fixing our broken immigration system, strengthening border security and providing a tough, but fair, pathway to earned citizenship for millions of Americans, welcomed the U.S. Senate's passage today of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744). The Senate passed the comprehensive immigration reform on a strong vote of 68 to 32. Udall called on the U.S. House of Representatives to quickly follow suit and not allow partisanship to derail this balanced, bipartisan compromise.
"Today's U.S. Senate vote is a historic victory for hardworking Colorado families who demanded that Congress find a tough, but fair, way to strengthen our borders and create a sensible pathway to earned citizenship for the millions living in the shadows. Coloradans often note that the Senate is gridlocked, but today senators from both parties found common ground and delivered on the promise to fix our broken immigration system. Now it's time for the U.S. House of Representatives to act," Udall said. "The American people, from business owners to religious leaders to middle-class families, want Congress to meet the policy challenges of our day. With Coloradans by my side, I am urging our House delegation and the Speaker of the House to seize this unique opportunity to pass immigration reform. Inaction is not acceptable."
Udall, who voiced the concerns of Coloradans in two speeches to the nation — one that told the story of Jorge, a Coloradan and father working to improve his family's life, and a second about Oscar, a Colorado college student and DREAMer — also welcomed the bill's inclusion of provisions that create jobs and strengthen border security.
Notably, the underlying immigration reform bill contains provisions based on Udall's "Start-Up Visa Act." These provisions are designed to allow foreign entrepreneurs to build successful businesses in the United States, with the goal of creating American-based jobs. Udall has worked for several years — partnering with Republicans at every step — to push the Start-Up Visa Act concept into law.
On Monday, Udall will join with business and community leaders to highlight the role immigrant-owned business play in creating jobs and supporting Colorado communities.
During the debate on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, Udall proposed a series of amendments to:
- Further encourage more foreign entrepreneurs to start businesses in the United States and create good-paying, middle-class jobs;
- Ensure the Border Patrol used the latest and most cost-effective technology to improve national security; and,
- Protect immigrants from unscrupulous notarios and "immigration consultants."
Udall, who has consistently fought for fixing the country's broken immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act, recently wrote an op-ed in the Denver Post on the issue. Udall also supported the bipartisan Colorado Compact on immigration, encouraging the rest of the country to follow Colorado's lead.