Vows Not to Give Up on Immigration Reform

Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today expressed outrage at the Senate’s failure to move a comprehensive immigration reform bill forward.

“It is utterly unacceptable for the Senate to fail to address the issue of comprehensive immigration reform,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “The country demands and deserves a solution to our broken immigration system, and it is unthinkable that the Senate would fail to move the debate forward.”

Murguía asserted that while much of the bill needs improvement, it also offers a great deal of hope. She highlighted the pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the “DREAM Act,” the reduction of backlogs for immigrant families, and the “AgJOBS” proposal. “Our opportunity to improve this bill and to enact the best possible reform rests with the United States Senate. They must not abdicate their duty to the American public,” she added.

“Like the many immigrants who came before them, those who are at the heart of the current debate have shown incredible courage and persistence in the face of adversity. They move forward despite enormous obstacles, and they do it with hope and faith in this great country. We share their desire and are inspired by their determination. Motivated by their example, we will continue to insist that the Senate pass the best possible immigration reform as soon as possible,” concluded Murguía.

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