Senate Passes Vitally Important Compromise Immigration Reform Bill

Washington, DC – Today, the Senate took a momentous step forward with a vote of 68-32 in favor of final passage of S. 744, the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.” This moves the United States toward real immigration reform which is so vitally important for immigrant families, businesses, and the entire economy.

“Despite our continued concerns regarding the recent changes in the bill that will militarize the border and bring real harm to border communities, AILA is pleased that the Senate continues to move forward toward real immigration reform that will on balance benefit far more families and businesses than it will hurt,” said newly installed American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) President Doug Stump. He continued, “This bill is far from perfect, but it does contain provisions that will boost our economy, make our country safer, and offer protections for the undocumented who currently live in the shadows.

“Of course, this is a big day for immigration reform but it is not the end of our work because while one Congressional chamber has moved forward, the other lags behind. The House has heretofore insisted on taking a piecemeal, enforcement-focused and restrictionist stance, with recent bills working their way through the Judiciary Committee that would criminalize undocumented immigrants, harm American businesses and employees, and gut our agricultural system. We call on the House to recognize that an incremental process will simply delay real reform. We look forward to the day when the common sense provisions in the Senate bill are enacted and have the full force of law,” Mr. Stump concluded.

“AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 13062754 (posted Jun. 27, 2013)”