For Immediate Release                                                               Press contact: Carlos Sanchez
                                                                                                                   202-225-2410
Thursday, June 07, 2007                                                            carlos.sanchez@mail.house.gov

Hispanic Caucus Greatly Disappointed in Senate’s Failure to Move Immigration Issue Forward

(Washington D.C.)- Tonight the Congressional Hispanic Caucus released the following statement responding to a failed cloture to end debate on amendment #1150 to S.1348, the Comprehensive Immigration bill.

“I want to thank all the Senators that worked diligently and faithfully to try to move the issue of immigration forward. Unfortunately, tonight we have missed a historic opportunity to secure our nation and bring justice to over 12 million hard working immigrants by the Senate’s inability to invoke cloture- effectively killing the legislation,” said Congressman Joe Baca, Chair of the CHC. “We are greatly disappointed, but not defeated. The CHC will work to assure that families are not ripped apart by bad policy. We will work to assure that those who seek a better life and make our country great always have a home here. The CHC has a longstanding history of fighting for fair comprehensive immigration reform, and that history will continue”

"We are extremely disappointed with the Senate's failure to invoke cloture," Gutierrez said. "However, this fight is far from over. The safety and security of millions of men and women are at stake. That said, we will continue to fight for what is right -- and for what is necessary -- to keep this critical issue moving forward. We will continue to push for comprehensive immigration reform. We will continue to push to protect workers. We will continue to fight to keep families together. We will continue to fight to protect and preserve our nation's proud history of welcoming those who seek a better life. This issue is too important to pass off onto another Congress or another Administration. The time to act is now; the time for excuses is over."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Hispanic descent.  Since 1976 the CHC has been addressing the needs of the Hispanic community in all areas of American life.  For more information on the CHC, call (202) 225-2410.

http://www.house.gov/baca/chc/