Proponents of immigration reform celebrated a historic victory on Thursday when the Senate successfully passed a comprehensive reform bill by a clear majority. Groups and organizations representing people from all walks of life, all across the country, are speaking out and voicing their approval and support for the legislation.
According to a report from the Huffington Post, Vice President Joe Biden was present on the Senate floor as the vote took place and he took the liberty of announcing the results. The bill passed 68 to 32, with all of the Senate's Democrats as well as 14 Republicans voting in favor.
The bill was drafted by the bipartisan "Gang of Eight," which includes Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). It addresses undocumented immigrants, legal immigration, border security, employer hiring and an entry-exit system so the government knows if foreign nationals leave the country when their visas expire.
While the bill has a great many dedicated supporters, it has also resulted in vehement opposition from some, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who insists that the bill is doomed to fail as it moves on to the House of Representatives.
"If this bill passes today, it will be all but relegated to the ash heap of history, as the House appears willing to tackle immigration reform the right way," Lee said prior to the vote. "The sponsors of the bill had the best of intentions, but in my opinion, intentions aren't enough."
Regardless of the opposition this immigration reform bill faces in the political sphere, organizations across the country representing groups of all kinds are cheering on its passage Friday. These groups are applauding the progress being made on the immigration front in this country and are speaking out to members of the House as the future of immigration reform comes to rest on their shoulders.
Following are a number of remarks and responses that have been made by these increasingly vocal organizations and individuals:
The Latino Colation (TLC), a non-profit nationwide organization advocating for Latino-owned businesses: "The Gang of Eight has shown determination and leadership on an issue that will expand the flexibility of the nation's labor force and economic growth," said TLC Chairman Hector Barreto. "However, significant work remains as the House of Representatives takes up this issue. Now is the time to come together, rise above partisanship and send forward a comprehensive immigration reform bill for the President's approval."
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), one of the country's largest and oldest civil rights organizations for the Hispanic community: "The GOP has reached a cross fork in their ideology where leadership must decide whether to be the party of immigration reform or the party that essentially signed away the Latino vote and severed ties with the Hispanic community," said LULAC Executive Director Brent Wilkes.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a leading professional association dedicated to international education: "We won two victories today, and each is enormously significant for our country. First, we won immigration reform in the Senate, an objective that has eluded previous Congresses in this century. We have taken the crucial first step toward creating a way for millions of aspiring Americans to make this their legal home and become fully contributing citizens of this nation," said NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Marlene Johnson. "Second, we have demonstrated that it is still possible for policymakers to come together in a bipartisan way and act constructively in the national interest when the stakes are highest."
The National League of Cities (NLC), an organization dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities, which works with 19,000 cities and represents over 218 million Americans: "The National League of Cities applauds today's Senate vote to pass historic immigration overhaul and legislation," said NLC President Marie Lopez Rogers. "This legislation offers a common sense solution to our broken structure, and gives hope to city leaders across the country who every day must deal with the consequences of the current fragmented system. Today's vote affirms what our residents have been telling us -- the time for reform is now!"
The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), a nonpartisan organization representing 1,295 cities across the country: "The nation's mayors applaud the Senate's decisive passage of bipartisan legislation that will repair our broken immigration system," said USCM President, Mesa (AZ) Mayor Scott Smith. "The Senate bill is not perfect, but compromises rarely are. The important thing is that it is worthy of our heritage as a nation of immigrants and will help us move our economy forward."
The Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), self-described as a "half-million member...powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America": "We encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to support the Senate's framework for a balanced, bipartisan solution to our nation's broken system," said LIUNA General President Terry O'Sullivan. "It would be tragic to come this close to passing the most significant immigration reform measure in the past 30 years only to see it collapse under the weight of unreasonable requirements or be transformed into nothing but a false promise for millions of aspiring citizens who love America."
President Barack Obama: "Today...the United States Senate delivered for all American people, bringing us a critical step closer to fixing our broken immigration system once and for all," Obama said. "If enacted, the Senate bill...would modernize the legal immigration system so that it once again reflects our values as a nation and addresses the urgent needs of our time...We have a unique opportunity to fix our broken system in a way that upholds our traditions as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. We just need Congress to finish the job."