[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 175 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Mr. SCHIFF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on Speaker Boehner to 
allow passage of the comprehensive immigration reform legislation. It 
is vital that we approach the issue of immigration with a sense of 
urgency, a spirit of compassion, and a commitment to security. Most 
important, reform must provide a path to citizenship for undocumented 
immigrants and allow them to emerge from the shadows.
  My congressional office has one of the highest volumes of immigration 
cases in California, and the stories that are shared with me are 
heartbreaking. I receive calls from constituents every day describing 
the hardships that our broken immigration system has placed on their 
families, and I have heard their pleas for help.
  The current wait time for many family members to reunite in the 
United States can be 10 years or more. DREAMers who came to the United 
States as young children and are pursuing a college degree or serving 
in the military have limited or no career opportunities and are stuck 
in endless limbo.
  Our broken immigration system takes a terrible toll on innocent 
families, local law enforcement, and our economy. We must not further 
delay action. The time to fix it is now.

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