Crowley on President Obama's Immigration Reform Proposal

Statement

Today, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a leader in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform, released the statement below applauding President Obama's speech on the need to address our nation's broken immigration system:

"I applaud President Obama for advancing the dialogue on immigration reform and calling for a real, meaningful solution that meets the challenges of our broken immigration system. As the son and grandson of Irish immigrants, my family's story is not unlike that of millions of Americans across our great country. We are a nation built by immigrants, and we are stronger because of it. But our current system is not meeting our country's needs, putting this proud tradition at risk.

"Comprehensive immigration reform is more than a national security issue or moral imperative -- it is an economic necessity. I support President Obama's call for a comprehensive approach that secures our borders, cracks down on unethical employers and provides those who are already here with an earned pathway to citizenship.

"I was heartened to see a bipartisan group of Senators come together to agree on a framework for reform, and I hope the House will be as quick to acknowledge the reality of the situation as well. I am proud to be a leader in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform and will continue to work in a bipartisan way to move our country in the right direction toward improving our immigration system. This is the right thing to do for our country and our future."

Congressman Crowley is the eight-term representative from the 14th Congressional District of New York, which includes sections of Queens and the Bronx. He is a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and serves as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives.

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