Statement of SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina on Senate Immigration Vote:

Senate Republicans Failing America on Immigration

WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, the Senate’s minority Republicans – including the major architect of the “grand bargain” Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona – voted against advancing the immigration reform bill. This vote exposes the failed leadership of Senate Republicans. When America needed them, they let our country down by burying their heads in the sand and refusing to find a solution to our broken immigration system. The American people will hold them responsible for their failure.

More than 60% of Americans favor an immigration reform program that provides earned legalization for those already here, establishes controlled channels for immigrants to come and work here in the future, and grants adequate funds for enforcement. Helping 12 million hard-working immigrants join mainstream American civic life would serve our national security, strengthen our economy, and increase opportunities for all workers. Yet this vote shows that the White House has lost control and has been drowned out by an angry, out-of-touch Republican minority in the Senate.

It’s time to bring hardworking, taxpaying immigrants who are undocumented out of the shadows and on a path to citizenship. It’s time to fix our notorious visa backlog system. It’s time to create legal and fair channels for immigrants to come here to work in the future. And it’s time to replace this cycle of border deaths and worker exploitation with a controlled system that works for America.

Yes, the immigration bill was imperfect; it will take a lot of creativity and compromise to create a workable solution. But a solution is needed, and our elected representatives have a duty to get this done. The need for immigration reform is not going away, and along with the vast majority of Americans who are ready for reform, we will continue to press Congress to work together and solve this problem.

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With 1.8 million members, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America. Focused on uniting workers in three sectors to improve their lives and the services they provide, SEIU is the largest health care union, including hospitals, nursing homes, and home care; the largest property services union, including building cleaning and security; and the second largest public employee union.

Michelle A. Ringuette
Assistant Director of Communications