Luis Gutiérrez

Well, once again we are not legislating in this Committee. We could be using this time to find common ground...

We need to go to conference, gentlemen and ladies. We need to find a solution.

The time to act is now.

Now is the time to pass immigration reform, and we can do the biometrics. But it has to be part of a bigger solution.

Mitt Romney said self-deportation, let's expand S.B. 1070, and he said he would veto the Dream Act. He lost by 5 million votes.

The political consequences of inaction on this issue are going to be grave to the Republican Party.

I want an American solution to our broken immigration system.

Let's work it out. That is all I am saying. Let's sit down, and let's not say we can't do anything.

We will not go away. We will persist in this issue.

Shame on us. Shame on us.

I think we have an historic opportunity before us to work together to improve our immigration laws.

They are here. They are staying. They are not afraid.

George W. Bush said that 'family values do not end at the Rio Grande.'

It was a very compelling and very moving testimony. I'm delighted that you're here and I'm delighted that we're having a hearing that I think really broadens the perspective of this Committee.

Not for want of trying, on my part and on the part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and many others to build support on both sides of the aisle, we were fighting against the headwinds of the most partisan period in recent American…

They stand with the DREAMers.

But look at where we are today.

I would like to ask unanimous consent that the op-ed written by my colleague, Congressman Mike Coffman, titled 'The Time for Immigration Reform is Now'...be submitted for the record.

I think we should look at immigrants as most of them look at themselves.

I am always impressed by the depth and the breadth of the movement in this country for immigration reform.

I ask that also be included in the record.

I fully believe is just the first step. I am optimistic that once you take one step toward justice, you will take a second and a third.

They will not settle for what is good for them unless they can also win what is good for their families.

As Congressman Coffman and Congressman Denham knows, they want to join the military.

I am optimistic that once you take a step towards justice, you will take a second one.