In June 2013, the United States Senate voted 68-32 for a bipartisan compromise that would address our nation’s long-standing immigration crisis. Unfortunately, Speaker John Boehner and the House Republicans have made a partisan decision to deny the bipartisan Senate bill an up-or-down vote. That decision is hurting the chances that we will see real, workable immigration reform by the end of the year.
That’s why advocates of reform are pursuing a “discharge petition” to force an up-or-down vote on the bill in the House of Representatives. It’s a matter of fairness. The Senate put partisanship aside to do the right thing for our communities and our country. At the very least, the House should do its job and vote on the bill.