Senator Lankford Statement on Senate Immigration Votes

Statement

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today made the following statement on the Senate failing to pass his Secure and Succeed Act, or any immigration legislation to address DACA and improve border security:

"I have been in countless meetings and private conversations to bring us to a solution that would pass the House and be signed into law by the President. I am very disappointed that the Senate was unable to move forward on any immigration legislation this week. After months of private and public debate, this was a unique opportunity to give citizenship to young people who came to this country years ago with their parents, and to finally secure our southern and northern borders. Border security and commonsense immigration reform has been a bipartisan issue for years. Most of what was proposed by the President and Senate Republicans has passed the Senate multiple times over the past fifteen years, but not today. It's disappointing that Democrats would not come to the table simply because President Trump supported it. Immigration reform is complicated and emotional, but it is essential that we keep working until we reach a good faith solution for the future of all Americans."

In September 2017, the President ended the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program with a six-month delay; March 5 is the deadline for Congress to find a legislative solution.

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