Rep. Sánchez Applauds Senate for Passing Immigration Reform

Southland immigrant-rights activists and lawmakers, including Congresswoman Linda Sanchez of the 38th District, hailed the U.S. Senate's passage of immigration legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for millions of people living in the country illegally, although the package has little chance of being approved by the House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the Senate approved the legislation, which was crafted by a bipartisan group of Senators known as the "Gang of Eight," on a 68-32 vote. Those voting in favor of the legislation included 14 Republicans.

"I congratulate the Senate on the passage of comprehensive immigration reform legislation,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Immigration reform is overdue - 27 years is far too long and 11 million people want to come out of the shadows. I hope House Republicans will recognize that we need a comprehensive immigration bill which provides a pathway to citizenship, brings families together and meets the needs of our communities, our economy and our country. We can't afford to wait any longer."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., also praised the progress.

"The bill includes several provisions important for California," she said. "I am especially pleased with the creation of a new Blue Card program for legal status and a pathway to citizenship for current undocumented farm workers. The bill establishes two new agricultural visa programs to make sure farmers are able to legally hire future workers when local workers are unavailable.

"The bill also helps tech companies hire workers in science and technology fields while protecting American workers from wage suppression and displacement," she said.

Arturo S. Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers union, said the vote "marks a historic moment for new U.S. immigrants."

He said the legislation "is a truly bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that calls for a roadmap to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the country. We urge members of the U.S. House of Representatives to not delay any longer and take up the Senate bill."

But House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has said the Republican- controlled House was unlikely to even consider the legislation.

"The House is not going to take up and vote on whatever the Senate passes," he said prior to the vote. "We're doing to do our own bill, through regular order.

"... For any legislation, including a conference report, to pass the House, it's going to have to be a bill that has the support of a majority of our (Republican) members," Boehner said.

But Democratic House members called for action.

"The Senate has done its job and passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that will secure our borders, protect our workers, require employers to comply with common-sense laws, unite families and offer hard-working immigrants an earned pathway to becoming taxpaying American citizens," Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, said.

"Immigration reform also will boost our economic recovery and reduce the federal deficit by nearly $200 billion over the next decade," he said. "It's time for real leadership in the House."

- City News Service contributed to a portion of this report.