Durbin Pledges Continued Support For Fair Immigration Policies
DURBIN PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR FAIR IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Meets with members of Mexican Senate in Capitol office
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) met today with two members of the Mexican Senate and discussed immigration, college education opportunities for immigrant graduates of American high schools, and migrant farm workers.
The two officials, Mexican Senate Vice President Raymundo Cárdenas Hernández of Zacatecas, and Senator Silvia Hernández of Queretaro, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, North America, were in Washington to discuss prospects for immigration reform in the 109th Congress.
Durbin reiterated his support for fair immigration laws. "The Administration needs to realize that the deportation of millions of hard-working immigrants is not a viable way to address security concerns," Durbin said. "We can be tough on terrorism without unfairly targeting our immigrant population."
Durbin plans to re-introduce legislation in the 109th Congress that would enable students who have graduated from high school in Illinois to pay in-state tuition for college-regardless of their immigration status. The Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, may even make some students eligible for legal resident status.
"The key to opportunity is education," Durbin said. "I want to provide more families with more help to pay for college."
Durbin is also an original cosponsor of the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act, or AgJOBS Act. The legislation would give guest worker status to undocumented agricultural workers and eventually allow them to adjust to permanent resident status.
"I believe that all work has dignity and people who work hard ought to be able to create a better life, with greater opportunity, for themselves and their children," Durbin said.
Durbin met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus late last month to discuss the legislative priorities of the Hispanic community in the 109th Congress.
http://durbin.senate.gov/releases.cfm