Congresswoman Ramirez Statement in Opposition to Senate Border Deal

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement:

“It has been nearly four decades since the last time we substantively changed our immigration laws. We know that comprehensive reform is needed to fix our broken immigration system. Unfortunately, the deal that has been negotiated in the current proposed supplemental bill falls far short of the mark. Our communities need and deserve so much more.

The American people deserve an immigration policy that is compassionate and humane. Our constituents deserve a comprehensive reform that honors our country’s legacy as a nation of immigrants.

Our communities deserve immigration laws that are informed by and negotiated with our immigrant communities and those who have been most affected by issues of migration. 

Families deserve relief and expanded legal pathways to citizenship for the 11 million people awaiting congressional action after 30 years of neglect. 

Asylum seekers deserve an updated policy that reflects our nation’s commitment to protect and shelter those fleeing persecution, oppression, and violence. They deserve a 21st-century definition of asylum and adequate staff for judicial review and due process. 

All migrants, whether they have been here a few days or thirty years, deserve the chance to legally work, provide for their families, and contribute to our society. 

We need to fundamentally transform and modernize our immigration laws so that the United States can be a world leader in creating a compassionate, humane, and forward-thinking immigration system. 

We must stop negotiating with racist and xenophobic extremists and instead embrace our role and responsibility to uplift our shared humanity as leaders in our global community."