Hearing On Examining The Need For Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Part II

Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy,

I am disappointed that in recent weeks we have seen election-year politics diminish the hard work the Senate has done to find a comprehensive solution to the nation’s immigration problem.  The Senate worked hard to create a bipartisan bill that delivered fair and comprehensive reforms.  Since its passage we have seen the Republican Congress reject efforts to move forward and make progress, despite the efforts of the Senate Democratic leader to get the matter to conference.  Instead of progress toward legislation we see a series of after-the-fact hearings.  A few, like the one held by the Senate Armed Services Committee this week and the Chairman’s field hearing last week contribute to the record supporting the Senate bill.  Others seem intended to do nothing more than inflame the passions of anti-immigrant activists and attempt to doom any chance of progress towards a comprehensive solution. 

The lines that have been drawn by opponents to comprehensive legislation are clear: The anti-immigrant faction opposes a fair and comprehensive approach.  They abhor establishing a pathway to earned citizenship. Apparently they believe this anti-immigrant position will help them in the upcoming elections.  I hope not.  I think we reject the best of America and our values when we refuse to recognize all that immigrants bring and mean to this country. I hope that fear and intolerance are not a winning political strategy.     

It is unrealistic to think that we can apprehend and deport every undocumented individual the Bush-Cheney Administration has allowed into the United States.  The reality is that our economy depends upon the labor of foreign workers.  Small and large business owners have told us this, the Mayor of the one of the largest cities in the world—who is no stranger to economic success—has told us this, and labor unions have told us this. 

The Wall Street Journal editorial board recently wrote that the choice—framed by immigration opponents as a choice between “amnesty” or border security—is a false one.  It is false because we can have border security at the same time we bring out of the shadows and assimilate individuals who are hard working, honest people contributing to our economy.   Read more at leahy.senate.gov