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Senator Boxer, Colleagues Express Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform to President Obama


Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 28, 2010.  U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and 15 of her Senate colleagues today sent a letter to President Obama expressing their support for the passage of bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform this year.

The text of the letter is below:

April 28, 2010

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

We know you have stated that comprehensive immigration reform is an important priority that must be addressed this year, and we agree with you that Congress should pass bipartisan legislation.

We believe that a broad segment of the American people support comprehensive immigration reform because they recognize that our broken immigration system unnecessarily damages our economic competitiveness and tears apart families and communities. This coalition of supporters – which includes leaders from the business, labor, religious, and law enforcement communities – understands that a commonsense approach to immigration reform will benefit our entire nation.

Comprehensive immigration reform means a return to the rule of law, increased border and homeland security, cracking down on unscrupulous employers, and preventing future flows of illegal immigrants by removing incentives to enter the country illegally. Reform proposals must protect American workers, end the shadow economy, provide certainty to American agriculture, and increase American competitiveness in all areas of the economy.

Comprehensive immigration reform also means reuniting families, modernizing existing immigration programs, and giving immigrant college-aged students a chance at the American dream. It also must include a pathway to earned citizenship that requires undocumented immigrants to pay taxes and fines, pass background checks, learn English and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Comprehensive immigration reform must provide fairness for American taxpayers by ensuring that all workers and businesses pay their fair share of taxes. The benefits of comprehensive reform for taxpayers and the U.S. economy have been enumerated in recent reports issued by the Cato Institute and the Center for American Progress.

While a majority of Americans support the commonsense, tough, and fair immigration reform principals outlined above, fixing our broken system this year will not be easy. But with your continued support, we stand ready to address this great challenge and are prepared to support bipartisan solutions for the long-term benefit of our nation.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer, United States Senator

Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator

John F. Kerry, United States Senator

Patty Murray, United States Senator

Tom Harkin, United States Senator

Patrick J. Leahy, United States Senator

Benjamin L. Cardin, United States Senator

Russell D. Feingold, United States Senator

Kirsten E. Gillibrand, United States Senator

Jeff Merkley, United States Senator

Tom Udall, United States Senator

Robert Menendez, United States Senator

Roland W. Burris, United States Senator

Christopher J. Dodd, United States Senator

Mark Udall, United States Senator

Frank R. Lautenberg, United States Senator

 

Source: boxer.senate.gov


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