[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REFORMING OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

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                             HON. RUSH HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, the time to reform our broken immigration 
system is long overdue. Our system does not meet the needs of families 
or businesses. I have met with people throughout our district to 
understand what our uneven, unfair, and unjust immigration system costs 
our businesses, our families, and our society at large--a cost to our 
national ideals, as well as a cost in dollars and cents. I have joined 
the group of dedicated activists who have for nearly a month been 
fasting on the National Mall, in the shadows of the Capitol, to call 
attention to the plight of the 11 million individuals who are Americans 
but for a piece of paper. The time is now to bring them out of the 
shadows.
  My colleagues may have noticed, as have various advocacy groups, that 
I have not signed on as cosponsor of H.R. 15, the legislation that has 
recently taken shape as the leading immigration reform bill. The fact 
of the matter is that we can, and we should, do better. I do support 
strongly the legislation authored by my friend and colleague from 
Arizona, Representative Raul Grijalva. It is a strong, progressive 
approach to reforming our broken system.
  In fact, the Grijalva bill is superior to H.R. 15. It targets and 
prioritizes border enforcement in an intelligent way to where and how 
it is needed most--to protect us from serious criminals and terrorist 
threats. It improves conditions for immigrant detainees and protects 
family unity by prohibiting separation of families with children. It 
protects workers' rights and keeps immigration enforcement in the hands 
of the appropriate authorities--the federal government, not local 
police.
  Whatever legislative vehicle immigration reform takes, it must 
contain a legal, controlled pathway to citizenship for the undocumented 
immigrants who keep our economy moving and to repair a tear in our 
social fabric. It must promote family reunification by reducing two 
decade-long family backlogs and reuniting spouses, parents, and 
children to together pursue the American Dream. It must build on the 
success of President Obama's Deferred Action program and incorporate 
DREAMers--those who were brought to the U.S. at a young age through no 
wrongdoing of their own--into the mainstream of American society so 
they can continue to make beneficial contributions not only to our 
economy, but to our diverse society. It must satisfy the needs of 
American employers. And it must ensure smart, targeted, and reasonable 
immigration enforcement that protects American society from serious 
criminals and real threats.
  H.R. 15 is not the bill I would have written--nor do I believe it is 
the bill that will ultimately become law--do not want to appear to be 
delaying reform. I call upon Speaker Boehner and the Republican 
leadership to immediately bring to the floor for our consideration 
legislation to reform our immigration laws.
  When it comes to something as important as fixing our broken 
immigration system, we should not settle for less than the American 
people deserve.

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