Senate Just Passed Commonsense Immigration Reform

Breaking News: Senate Just Passed Commonsense Immigration Reform Friends, Today, on a bipartisan vote of 68-32, the Senate resoundingly approved historic immigration reform legislation, showing that the time has come to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. In response to the vote, President Obama issued a statement, lauding the Senate’s action: Today, the Senate did its job.  It’s now up to the House to do the same.  As this process moves forward, I urge everyone who cares about this issue to keep a watchful eye.  Now is the time when opponents will try their hardest to pull this bipartisan effort apart so they can stop commonsense reform from becoming a reality.  We cannot let that happen.  If you’re among the clear majority of Americans who support reform – from CEOs to labor leaders, law enforcement to clergy – reach out to your Member of Congress.  Tell them to do the right thing.  Tell them to pass commonsense reform so that our businesses and workers are all playing by the same rules and everyone who’s in this country is paying their fair share in taxes.  We have a unique opportunity to fix our broken system in a way that upholds our traditions as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.  We just need Congress to finish the job. To read the full statement click here. Thank you all for your continued efforts to advance immigration reform!  With momentum from today’s Senate vote, attention now shifts to the House of Representatives.  Please continue to make your voices heard and remind folks that NOW is the TIME to enact commonsense immigration reform.  As always, please share with your networks. Julie Chávez Rodriguez Associate Director White House | Office of Public Engagement More Updates This week, in an effort to highlight one of the many benefits of immigration reform, the President met with CEOs, business owners, and entrepreneurs.  The President and business representatives discussed their shared belief that achieving immigration reform holds meaningful economic promise for the United States.  The meeting occurred on the heels of last week’s release of the Congressional Budget Office’s official score of the Senate’s bipartisan immigration bill, which concluded that the legislation would reduce federal deficits by approximately $200 billion over the next 10 years and close to $700 billion in the second decade.  CBO also found that commonsense immigration reform will increase real GDP by 3.3% ($700 billion) between 2013–2023 and 5.4% ($1.4 trillion) between 2023–2033.  Citing these findings, the President reiterated his support for reform in his Weekly Address, stressing that it is time for Congress to pass commonsense immigration reform. The Treasury Department has released an informational graph to summarize the CBO’s findings and highlight the potential impacts of the immigration bill. Agency Updates Readout of Secretary Napolitano’s Calls with Major City and County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs June 19, 2013 Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano spoke with major city and county police chiefs and sheriffs to discuss the need for commonsense immigration reform to strengthen border security, building upon the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) historic gains achieved over the past four years. DHS Announces Re-designation and 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Syria June 17, 2013 Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has re-designated Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and extended the existing TPS designation for the country from Oct. 1, 2013, through March 31, 2015. Readout of Secretary Napolitano’s Visit to New York June 14, 2013 Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano traveled to New York where she met with business community leaders to discuss the need for commonsense immigration reform, which is critical to our nation’s economic health and prosperity. Readout of Secretary Napolitano’s Call with Southwest Border Sheriffs and Police Chiefs June 10, 2013 Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano hosted a conference call with Southwest Border Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to discuss the need for commonsense reform to strengthen border security, building upon the Department’s historic gains achieved over the past four years. Secretary Napolitano and CBP Acting Commissioner Winkowski Participate in Global Entry Enrollment Center and Gallery Ribbon Cutting June 6, 2013 Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Thomas Winkowski participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Global Entry enrollment center and gallery at CBP Headquarters to mark the fifth anniversary of Global Entry.  Beginning June 10, applicants will be able to complete their Global Entry interview at the new Washington, D.C. enrollment center. Blog Highlights Western Officials Demand a 21st Century Immigration System June 25, 2013 Officials in the West wrap up our series by sharing what bringing our legal immigration system into the 21st century would mean to them. Leaders Across the Southwest Say It's Time to Fix the Broken Immigration System June 24, 2013 Officials in the Southwest explain why the time is now to fix the broken immigration system. In the Northeast, Leaders Demand an Immigration System that Lives up to Our Heritage as a Nation of Laws and a Nation of Immigrants June 21, 2013 Officials in the Northeast explain how commonsense immigration reform is consistent with our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. A Great Way to Save $1,000,000,000,000 June 20, 2013 The Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan experts who analyze the financial impact of legislation, believes that Senate immigration bill will reduce the deficit by almost $1 trillion over the next two decades. Leaders Across the Midwest Urge Immigration Reform to Strengthen the Economy June 20, 2013 Leaders in the Midwest share why they support immigration reform and how fixing the broken immigration system will help their communities by strengthening the economy, spurring innovation, and increasing U.S. trade and exports. State and Local Officials in the South Speak Up to Fix the Broken Immigration System June 19, 2013 Governors, mayors, county executives, state legislators, attorneys general, and treasurers from the South share why they support immigration reform and how fixing the broken immigration system would impact their communities. My Big American Family June 17, 2013 May Chen shares the story of her immigration to America. Deferred Action Remains a Smart and Sensible Immigration Policy, but Congress Still Needs to Act  June 14, 2013 DACA is just one of the many steps the Department of Homeland Security has taken to make our immigration enforcement policies smarter and more effective at focusing on our priorities. These steps all ensure that our immigration enforcement can focus on high-priority individuals instead of clogging the system with low priority cases. Ansel Adams and My Dad: No Picture Taken June 12, 2013 Frances E. Francis shares how her father proved his American spirit through acts of courage and persistence, similar to the millions of immigrants who make up the landscape of our great nation. White House Staffers Share Their Immigration Stories June 12, 2013 The United States is a nation of immigrants. And the White House, like nearly every other American office, is full of staffers whose stories started in countries all over the world.  We asked some of them to share their own immigration stories and explain why they think it’s so important to fix our broken immigration system once and for all. Get Involved A Conversation With USCIS The USCIS Public Engagement Division invites you to attend a free national Spanish-language event.  Our representatives will share agency updates, discuss immigration-related topics, and will be available to answer your questions.  The event will take place on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 from 7:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.  Participants can call in via teleconference at 1-888-989-4980 (Password: Enlace) or watch live via web stream atwww.uscis.gov/live/enlace.  For more information, please emailpublic.engagement@uscis.dhs.gov, or to learn more about USCIS resources available in Spanish, please visit www.uscis.gov/espanol. Informacion enviado por: Fabio Andrade,de Americas Community Center