Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after the U.S. Senate passed the comprehensive immigration reform bill.
“America, especially New York, was built by the contributions of immigrants who came to America in search of opportunity, enriching our country and our culture one generation after the next.
“Comprehensive immigration reform is the right step to bring our immigration system into the 21st century, improving our economy, strengthening our security and honoring a founding tradition that as a nation, we derive our greatness from our diversity.
“I want to thank the leaders of both parties who worked hard together in good faith to produce a strong, bipartisan bill that right-sizes our immigration system, keeps families united, and gives our immigrant community, particularly those young DREAMers who know no other home than America, an opportunity to earn their way to citizenship. The House of Representatives must now do its job and pass this bill that will strengthen our economy.”