ShareThisObama lauds bipartisan action; Filipinos hopeful
By MARIE-ALSIE G. PENARANDA
Special to Fil-Am Megascene
WASHINGTON, DC (PhilAmPress) – Measures to reform the immigration system of the United States have been approved by the U.S. Senate, buoying hopes for some 15 million undocumented residents, many of them Latinos and Filipinos.
Sixty eight members of the US Senate, Republicans and Democrats, voted to approve the comprehensive immigration reform measures during a session on June 27 (US time) against 32 who opposed. Forteen of the Senate’s 46 Republicans joined all 52 Democrats and two independents in support of the bill.
U.S. President Barack Obama lauded the US Senate for its support to immigration reforms as he called on leaders to continue their vigilance because the measures are not yet formally made into law.
“Today, with a strong bipartisan vote, the United States Senate delivered for the American people, bringing us a critical step closer to fixing our broken immigration system once and for all,” Obama said.
In the House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner stressed that Republicans would “do our own bill,” one that “reflects the will of our majority,” many of whom oppose citizenship for immigrants who are in the United States illegally.
Any bill in the Republican-controlled House is expected to focus heavily on border security and finding immigrants who have overstayed their visas, according to a report.
“Immigration reform has to be grounded in real border security,” Boehner said.
Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a possible 2016 presidential candidate, delivered a passionate speech urging passage of the measure that he helped write.
Rubio recounted in his speech his parents’ difficult lives in Cuba and their struggles after immigrating to the United States, Rubio said: “For over 200 years now, they (immigrants) have come; in search of liberty and freedom, for sure. But often simply looking for jobs to feed their kids and the chance of a better life.”
According to a White House report, the U.S. Senate Republicans and Democrats, “voted for a bill that secures our borders and cracks down
on employers who refuse to play by the rules.”
“ They voted for a bill that provides undocumented immigrants with a way to earn citizenship so they can come out of the shadows. They voted for a bill that provides visas to foreign entrepreneurs looking to start American businesses, reunites families, and helps the students and young people who’ve never known any home but America fully embrace the country that they love,” the statement added.
The House of Representatives is yet to approve its own version of the immigration reforms bill.
In a statement released by the White House, President Obama the Senate leaders who helped push the measures.
“I thank Majority Leader Reid, Senator Leahy, Senator Schumer, and every member of the ‘Gang of Eight’ for their leadership, and I commend all Senators who worked across party lines to get this done,” Obama said.
Obama admitted that the bipartisan bill that passed was a compromise. “By definition, nobody got everything they wanted. Not Democrats. Not Republicans. Not me. But the Senate bill is consistent with the key principles for commonsense reform that I – and many others – have repeatedly laid out,” the President stressed.
Obama said that if enacted, the Senate bill would establish the most aggressive border security plan in US history. “It would offer a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million individuals who are in this country illegally – a pathway that includes passing a background check, learning English, paying taxes and a penalty, and then going to the back of the line behind everyone who’s playing by the rules and trying to come here legally,” he pointed out.
“ It 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. And it would provide a big boost to our recovery, by shrinking our deficits and growing our economy,” Mr. Obama said.
“Today, the Senate did its job. It’s now up to the House to do the same,” the President said.
Obama appealed for continued support until the measures finally becomes a law. “As this process moves forward, I urge everyone who cares about this issue to keep a watchful eye. Now is the time when opponents will try their hardest to pull this bipartisan effort apart so they can stop commonsense reform from becoming a reality. We cannot let that happen,” he said.
Mr. Obama added: “ If you’re among the clear majority of Americans who support reform – from CEOs to labor leaders, law enforcement to clergy – reach out to your Member of Congress. Tell them to do the right thing. Tell them to pass commonsense reform so that our businesses and workers are all playing by the same rules and everyone who’s in this country is paying their fair share in taxes.”
“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,” Obama stressed.