FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2013

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, National Immigration Law Center, (213) 400-7822, [email protected]

NILC Responds to House Speaker John Boehner Regarding Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON — Speaker John Boehner, R-OH, told reporters today that the House of Representatives would not negotiate with the Senate on bipartisan immigration reform legislation approved by the Senate in June. “We have no intention of ever going to conference on the Senate bill,” Boehner said.

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC), which is deeply involved in the development of commonsense immigration reform legislation, urges Speaker Boehner to reconsider his position. The following is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of NILC:

“Nothing Speaker Boehner has said gets our nation closer to resolving the moral crisis related to the broken immigration system. Instead of offering a solution, the House has stepped back from its responsibility to legislate on this critical issue.

“The last time we checked, Congress was made up of two chambers. The House must work with the Senate to repair an immigration system that separates millions of families and stymies our economy.

“Instead of leading and trying to address this critical issue, Mr. Boehner’s statement suggests more of the same political gamesmanship that has overrun Congress.

“Negligently brushed aside are the families that have waited too long for immigration reform.

“The immigration legislative debate is not over until needed reforms are enacted. It’s time for Mr. Boehner and the House to lead on this critical issue and offer a solution instead of digging deeper into the hole of destructive politics and inaction that hurts our economy and our nation.”

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