Statement

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made the following statement on agreement by a bipartisan group of Senators on a set of principles for immigration reform:

"I hope the third time is the charm. I have enjoyed working with my Senate colleagues in drafting these principles and believe we are off to a good start. The bipartisan immigration principles represent a real breakthrough on substance and I hope they will be seen as a breakthrough in forming a political coalition to finally solve our immigration problems. The coalition must also include the President and the House of Representatives.

"My hope is immigration reform will start in the Senate and receive an overwhelming bipartisan vote. We're a long way from having legislative language but I do believe 2013 presents us the best chance to pass immigration reform in many years. The time is right and the way forward, while difficult is being better defined by the day, and with a reasonable amount of political give and take we will be successful. However, if for some reason we fail in our efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform I do believe it will be many years before anyone is willing to try and solve this problem. We should start this new attempt hopeful and with full understanding how difficult the task is."