After months of preparation and growing momentum, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) announced today that he will introduce real, comprehensive immigration legislation in Congress next Tuesday.
Here is a video of the Congressman, promising action to a pumped-up crowd in October:
Congressman Gutierrez is hardly flying it alone on immigration reform, however. He will be introducing the “Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (with the amazing acronym, CIR ASAP),” to the U.S. House of Representatives with major backing from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Black Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus and Progressive Caucus.
Rep. Gutierrez’ office minced no words about the urgency of real reform, in a press statement today:
We have waited patiently for a workable solution to our immigration crisis to be taken up by this Congress and our President. The time for waiting is over. This bill will be presented before Congress recesses for the holidays so that there is no excuse for inaction in the New Year. It is the product of months of collaboration with civil rights advocates, labor organizations, and members of Congress. It is an answer to too many years of pain —mothers separated from their children, workers exploited and undermined security at the border— all caused at the hands of a broken immigration system. This bill says ‘enough,’ and presents a solution to our broken system that we as a nation of immigrants can be proud of.
