Washington, D.C. — Neera Tanden, Counselor to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, today released this statement following the introduction of sweeping immigration reform legislation in the Senate:
The historic immigration-reform legislation introduced today represents a big step forward for our country. The proposed Senate bill is a watershed moment, with both parties coming together to craft a thoughtful, pragmatic solution to a big challenge that will directly impact and improve the path our nation is on for decades to come. The legislation announced today gives the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America a clear shot at the American Dream and substantially revamps our legal-immigration system. The proposed path to citizenship, while long, is a major improvement and will be economically beneficial, adding an average of 121,000 jobs annually and a cumulative $832 billion to our gross domestic product in the first decade after the bill’s enactment. The bill is not perfect, but it is significant progress. I am hopeful that Congress will act decisively on the bill and ultimately reflect the will of the majority of Americans by reforming our immigration laws.
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To speak with a CAPAF expert on this topic, contact Crystal Patterson at cpatterson@americanprogress.org or 202.478.6350.