Gonzalez Applauds STRIVE Act Subcommittee Hearing, Renews Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Press Release

Gonzalez Applauds STRIVE Act Subcommittee Hearing, Renews Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

This afternoon, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration held a hearing on HR 1645, the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007 (STRIVE Act). This legislation comprehensively reforms American immigration policy by adopting reasonable measures to deal with the millions of undocumented immigrants living in America while simultaneously accounting for the vital role immigrants play in our nation's economy. "This afternoon's hearing was a step in the right direction as we explore ways to address our country's broken immigration system," said Gonzalez. "We must commit to a comprehensive solution if we truly want an immigration system that works for employers and employees, observes the laws of our land, and secures our borders; this bill and the Subcommittee's hearing are steps towards achieving this goal."

The hearing featured testimony from a diverse panel of Americans who bring an array of experience and prospective to the immigration debate. This included US Navy Petty Officer Second Class Eduardo Gonzalez, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War currently preparing for his third tour of duty in Iraq whose wife is facing deportation under current law.

"Mr. Gonzalez's story paints a perfect picture of the realities facing the immigrant community in America. Immigrants are contributing members of our society and they play a significant role in our day to day lives; a family member's deportation should never be the concern of an American who is courageously serving our country on the battlefield in a time of war."

"The immigration debate in our country has inaccurately portrayed and unfairly targeted the immigrant population in America. This community has become a scapegoat for anti-immigrant sentiments and as a result, we've lost sight of the real problems with our broken policy. As we move forward, we must set aside the hateful and polarizing political rhetoric that has dominated this debate and instead, focus on developing sensible, comprehensive solution to our immigration crisis," he added.

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