U.S. Rep Gregory W. Meeks Statement on President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration

U.S. Rep Gregory W. Meeks Statement on President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration

Washington, D. C. - Congressman Gregory W. Meeks released the following statement this evening after President Obama announced executive action on immigration:

"The President’s bold action is an important step towards fixing our decades old broken immigration system. While the President cannot provide a comprehensive fix on his own, he has taken executive action to ensure that those immigrants whose children were born in the U.S., have been paying taxes, and contributing to our society will be granted temporary visas – expanding eligibility for his 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that has already provided protection to over 600,000 child immigrants.

"Our country has always lauded itself on being a land brimming with opportunity for anyone who is determined and hard-working to strive for the American Dream. The responsibility lies with Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation that will fully address one of the greatest issues facing our country. Immigration reform will not only provide relief and clarity to hundreds of thousands of immigrants who are living as second class citizens, but it will also create jobs, strengthen small businesses, fuel innovation, reduce the deficit, and energize the economy." [End]