Immigration Reform

Floor Speech

Mr. GARCIA. Mr. Speaker, in the Judiciary Committee today, we will be considering an immigration enforcement bill that is as controversial as it is downright dangerous.

While the Senate is working in good faith towards real immigration reform, some of my colleagues continue to push partisan legislation that does nothing to fix our broken immigration system or get us any closer to real reform.

If my colleagues will indulge me, I'd like to say a few words in Spanish.

(English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:)

In the Judiciary Committee today, we will be considering legislation that is as controversial as it is dangerous.

It would give unprecedented powers to local police, essentially giving them the same authority as immigration officials.

While the Senate continues to work toward a compromise, some of our colleagues continue to offer legislation that does nothing to protect our national security, does nothing to grow our economy, and does nothing to fix our immigration system.

We cannot allow a handful of Members of Congress to play politics instead of taking seriously the goal of passing immigration reform.

Hoy, en el comité judicial, vamos a considerar legislación que es tanto controversial como peligrosa.

Le daría poderes sin precedentes a la policía local, esencialmente dándole la misma autoridad de agentes de inmigración.

Mientras que el Senado continúa trabajando hacia un compromiso, algunos de nuestros colegas siguen proponiendo legislación que no protege nuestra seguridad nacional, no ayuda a crecer nuestra economía, y no arregla nuestro sistema de inmigración.

No podemos permitir que algunos congresistas jueguen política en vez de tomar en serio la meta de pasar una reforma migratoria.

Our Nation cannot afford to play partisan politics. Now is the time for real immigration reform.

Source