Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.), ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, today issued the following statement after voting for a procedural motion to begin Senate debate on immigration reform:
"I have serious concerns with the legislation that came out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and cannot support it in its current form. However, the immigration system we have today has failed -- it has failed the citizens of this country and it has failed those who have been standing in line for years trying to become citizens the right way. Over the next few weeks, the Senate should work to improve this bill through an open, fair and thorough debate that includes the input of the American people.
"I am particularly focused on enhancing border security measures to ensure the same mistakes made in 1986 do not occur again. We cannot just trust that the border will get fixed. Steps must be taken now to secure our borders, expand employer verification and improve the existing exit system. Fixing our immigration crisis is critical to growing our economy and strengthening national security, and I look forward to this important debate."