[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16254]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              IMMIGRATION

  Mr. REID. I, of course, welcome all Senators and our staff back from 
the Thanksgiving recess. I am sure that, like me, people spent time 
with their loved ones, some here and some at their homes around the 
country.
  For many families across America, this Thanksgiving was particularly 
unique and special. Because of President Obama's recent Executive 
actions, many immigrant families celebrated their holiday together for 
the first time without the threat of someone knocking on their door in 
a police uniform.
  These people now, instead of staying in the shadows, are having a 
good time. Their holiday is not threatened to be ruined. All over 
America they are openly giving thanks or blessings with family that 
they haven't been able to enjoy in the past. Instead of looking over 
their shoulder, they joyously revel in the time they spent with their 
loved ones.
  What President Obama did needed to be done.
  The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the presiding President pro 
tempore, spent days and weeks coming up with a very difficult piece of 
legislation, comprehensive immigration reform. Amendments by the scores 
were heard and debated. Republican amendments were adopted, Democratic 
amendments were adopted, and that matter was brought to the Senate 
floor where there was a good, genuine, long debate. On the floor, 
amendments were offered, debated, and voted upon. We created a very 
good bill based upon the work of the Judiciary Committee. It was 
bipartisan, and it was one that had an overwhelming vote on the Senate 
floor.
  This had to be done. It had to be done because we have all seen 
firsthand our Nation's failing immigration system was tearing families 
apart. Each day Senate offices all over America would receive pleas--I 
did in Nevada--from loved ones who have fallen victim to our Nation's 
flawed immigration system.
  I met with these people personally. I have talked with them on the 
telephone, I have read their letters, I have seen their emails, and it 
is heartbreaking to listen and hear some of their stories, their 
experiences. So I always try to do everything within the law to help, 
and sometimes we can help. Other times they cannot be helped within the 
confines of the law, so they wind up very unhappy.
  Early this year I was able to--for example, the experience that we 
have all had--unite Edith Fawkes, a mother from Las Vegas, with her 12-
year-old son Brahyam. That was a festive occasion, it was touching, but 
it is all too rare. For every one family who is reunited, thousands and 
thousands of others have been decimated by deportations.
  That is why the Executive action taken by the President is so very 
important. It helps mend our Nation's broken immigration system, gets 
criminals off the streets, strengthens our border security, and spurs 
our economy. It spurs our economy. Underline and underscore that.
  President Obama's action keeps families together. That is the most 
important thing. It allows parents with children who are U.S. citizens 
or green card holders to temporarily stay in our country, this country 
they call their home. By acting, the President said mothers, fathers, 
sons, and daughters are no longer relegated to the shadows of American 
society.
  The American community now knows there is a path forward. There 
really is a way. President Obama took the first step. It is a good 
first step, but it is only a temporary solution.
  If I had my way, the President would have signed a comprehensive 
immigration bill into law, one that came out of the Judiciary 
Committee, instead of announcing Executive actions. But we could not 
sit idly by waiting for the Republicans to act while homes are broken 
up all over our country--and, frankly, their actions hurt our economy. 
The President has taken the first step. I repeat, the first step. Now 
Congress must act to address all the issues in our broken immigration 
system.
  The House Republicans can still and should pass the bipartisan 
immigration bill that the Senate passed 520 days ago. In the meantime, 
I will keep fighting in Congress to pass comprehensive immigration 
reform that brings permanent long-term relief to our Nation.
  We have done all we can in the Senate. We need to do more. I am 
begging the House to do something. If they brought this bill to the 
floor, it would pass overwhelmingly.

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