NILC Statement on Markup of Senate Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2013

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]

IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL
National Immigration Law Center Statement on the First Day of Senate Markup

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on the first of several proposed amendments to S. 744, the bipartisan immigration reform bill introduced two weeks ago. Amendments to the “triggers” and components of Title I (also known as the border component of the bill), as well as a vote on the manager’s amendments, were brought forward and addressed. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, who attended today’s proceedings:

“The Senate Judiciary Committee demonstrated its commitment to commonsense immigration reform today, rejecting poison pills such as Senator Grassley’s proposal to delay putting aspiring citizens on the road to citizenship by placing onerous border triggers in the bill.

“Throughout today’s session, we heard competing visions for our nation’s immigration system. Some senators, led by Senators Sessions and Grassley, presented a retread of the scare tactics they have successfully used to feed an insatiable detention and deportation appetite that has had a devastating impact on families and local communities.

“Fortunately, common sense prevailed: the majority of the committee heeded the demands of the majority of Americans to finally bring our immigration system in line with our societal and economic needs and values. This landmark bill will face many additional tests, but we are pleased to see that voices of reason focused on solutions to fix our immigration system prevailed today.”

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