This afternoon, I voted against Tea Party-backed legislation that would tear apart families and hurt our economy. The measures that the House voted to overturn today provide those that came to the United States as children and the parents of lawful citizens the ability to come out of the shadows and live without fear. The Tea Party is so focused on deporting DREAMers and families they are willing to endanger the funding of Homeland Security and cause a costly government shutdown.
Last month, the majority party rejected my amendment that would have protected military families, victims of domestic violence, and Cuban nationals. Unfortunately, although we are in a new year and a new Congress, they are playing the same old games.
Passing comprehensive immigration reform would create jobs, improve our economy, reduce the deficit, and improve national security. The United States should be fighting to retain our high-skilled immigrant workers and help our entrepreneurs and startups. However, instead of working in a bipartisan fashion to reach a comprehensive immigration reform proposal like the Senate was able to accomplish, Republicans in the House of Representatives are pushing mean-spirited legislation that would take us backwards.
Growing up in South Florida, I can tell you that the cultural richness of our great state does not exist without immigrants. That’s why I will continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken system, secure the border, create jobs, and reduce the deficit by nearly a trillion dollars. Despite these harmful attempts from the Tea Party, we must continue to press for a system that works.
Join my petition: Tell the Tea Party to stop targeting DREAMers.
- Congressman Patrick Murphy