Heinrich Statement on Fixing Our Broken Immigration System

Statement

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement on the actions President Obama is taking to help fix our broken immigration system:

"The President's proposal is a good first step toward fixing our nation's broken immigration system. This executive action cracks down on illegal immigration at the border and prioritizes deporting felons rather than families. It also requires undocumented workers to pass a background check and pay their taxes. Those are common sense steps and well within the executive authority used by Presidents like Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush to deal with these same issues. However, only Congress can finish the job and fix the entire immigration system.

"Last year, the Senate passed a common-sense, bipartisan immigration bill that dramatically increases resources at our nation's border, will grow our economy, and prioritizes keeping families together. Yet here we are, more than 500 days later, and Speaker Boehner still refuses to allow a vote on this legislation. That's not leadership, it's obstruction. Speaker Boehner needs to stop his activist litigation and do his job by passing legislation. If House Republicans genuinely want to fix our immigration laws and make our policies crystal clear, they would pass the Senate's bipartisan immigration bill now.

"As the son of an immigrant, I know how important reform is for families across New Mexico. Our immigrant communities have helped write the economic, social, and cultural story of America. New Mexicans are eager for a solution, DREAM Act students deserve a solution, and our economy requires a solution.

"I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass a permanent solution to fix our nation's broken immigration system. America will be better for it."

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