The following is a press statement from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Sen. Cruz’s amendment to prohibit immigrants from ever obtaining citizenship:
Today, CHC Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) and Members of the CHC released the following statement in response to the amendment offered by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) that would prohibit current and former undocumented immigrants from being eligible for United States citizenship:
“As the CHC outlined in our Nine Principles of Immigration Reform, we will not support any legislation that does not provide a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are living in the shadows and exploited in the black market. Blocking 11 million undocumented immigrants from ever being able to fully contribute to our country is a huge step backward for our American values.
“It is disturbing that Sen. Ted Cruz refuses to move past abstract, extremist rhetoric and see immigration reform in real life terms. The American people have consistently called on Congress to find a just, sensible solution. Sen. Cruz’s amendment however, would, in effect, institutionalize an underclass. Future generations will look back at his proposal with shame and shake their heads at how the senator dismissed some of our core American values.”
Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-04), Chair of the CHC Immigration Task Force:
“I guess Senator Cruz feels that someone must boldly stand against the tide of history, point backwards, and say ‘follow me.’ ”
Rep. José E. Serrano (NY-15):
“We must renounce needless partisanship and efforts to kill the bipartisan effort to reform our immigration system,” said Congressman José E. Serrano. “We should work in a constructive and productive manner to fix this problem and give a chance to people who came here in search of a better life. I urge Senator Cruz to withdraw his counter-productive amendment.”
Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20):
“Congress should not be in the business of creating second class groups in America. It is shameful how short-sighted proponents of this amendment are, particularly coming from states like Texas with such a deep-seeded immigrant community. Congress can no longer turn a blind eye to our faltering immigration system, but immigration reform cannot turn its back on America’s basic principles of civil rights. ”
