FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
Today, the Senate’s bipartisan “Gang of Eight” announced an agreement on a border security amendment that has thus far been a sticking point in negotiations on the passage of S. 744 the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.”
“We want to acknowledge and thank the members of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” for their tireless efforts, their statesmanship and their unwavering commitment to a balanced and fair approach to immigration reform. They have bent over backwards to accommodate some of their enforcement-first colleagues, and this compromise represents a huge concession on their part,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza).
“While we believe that this compromise is unnecessary policywise, it is clearly politically necessary both to ensure a solid bipartisan Senate vote and to send a strong signal to the House that they must act to support a fair and effective bipartisan solution. By agreeing to this deal, the bipartisan group of senators has overcome the bill’s biggest hurdle without undermining the path to legality and citizenship, which is at the heart of the legislation,” added Murguía.
“Like all hard-fought compromises, this one is painful. It is also excessive since the current bill already has sufficient resources dedicated to improving security. Specifically, by doubling the number of Customs and Border Patrol agents, the amendment will drum up unnecessary costs and raise concerns about civil rights violations for people living in border communities. It is essential that the final bill includes provisions to prevent civil rights abuse and racial profiling and to ensure that Customs and Border Patrol agents are properly trained and held accountable,” continued Murguía.
“We urge the Senate to move forward as quickly as possible with a vote on final passage,” concluded Murguía.
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