Statement by Wade Henderson on Senate Immigration Reform Proposal

“The Leadership Conference is encouraged that the Senate leadership has heard the urgent pleas about immigration reform, and is moving forward today with a plan.  While these are challenging times, immigration reform is simply too important to put off for another year.  In the absence of a comprehensive fix, states and cities will continue to take the matter into their own hands – and as Arizona’s new law shows, they can get it very, very wrong.

The principle behind the comprehensive immigration reform movement is the same principle that has guided every civil and human rights movement in our nation’s history:  that people who work hard to make our country a better place, and who are willing to play by the rules, deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity and to have an equal chance to share in the American Dream. Fixing our immigration system is essential to fixing our health care system; expanding our economy and creating good jobs; strengthening workers’ rights and protecting consumers; and providing every student in this country with a quality education.

We are grateful to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Senators Schumer, Leahy, Durbin, Feinstein, and Menendez for taking the initiative to move forward with a blueprint for reform.  It is time for their colleagues from both parties to join in the effort.”