The Nation's Broken Immigration System

Floor Speech

r. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to put aside partisan differences and begin in earnest to address our Nation's broken immigration system. Although we do not always agree on how to change the system, it is clear that we all agree that the current system is broken and in need of meaningful reform.

Yesterday I met with the President to discuss a way forward for immigration reform; and while comprehensive reform remains my priority, we cannot allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good. We must begin to address our immigration issues this year, improve our security at the borders. But piecemeal approaches at the State and local level only further complicates our Nation's immigration policy. We cannot and should not abandon our responsibility at the Federal level.

AgJobs and the DREAM Act provides a path forward that can be an example of how we can reform in a meaningful way that benefits our economy, provides a stable workforce on our local farms, and reduces the number of illegal workers in our country. We must act now, and I ask my colleagues to join me to pass immigration reform this year.

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