Xavier Becerra: “Mr. Speaker, first let me make it clear to anyone listening, this motion to instruct says we must insist on the House's…”

“Mr. Speaker, first let me make it clear to anyone listening, this motion to instruct says we must insist on the House's position. The House's position is to eliminate section 245(i). It does not talk about coming up with some modification or compromise. It says eliminate, because we did not do anything on it, so that means it would be extinguished. Secondly, this is not a section that would serve as a magnet, as one of the Members implied earlier in his discussion, to bring in people who are undocumented. An individual must have a legal basis for obtaining lawful permanent residency in order to qualify for section 245(i). If you do not have a legal basis to be in this country, you cannot apply. This is a Nation of laws, and the law says that you can adjust based on 245(i) if you meet the conditions. What we are fighting is last year we changed the law in midstream on hundreds of thousands of people. That is unfair. Due process requires us to say to folks, if we told you these were the rules of the game, then that is what you must abide by. We should not change. Now is the time for us to be flexible. Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act provides very needed flexibility for our business community and for very close-knit families.”