It is my belief that we can and must try to find a way to enact significant improvements to our immigration system now.

I pledge that I will work and work and work and work to strike the right balance and achieve the critical reforms to our immigration system that the American people are asking us to enact.

I am optimistic, using the formulations that we have talked about today, that we might--not for sure, and, boy, it is hard.

Most Americans are pro-immigration but anti-illegal immigration.

I think the American people would accept a fair, reasonable path to citizenship for the illegal immigrants who are here.

I do not know of a police department in this country that has the ability to take on these types of investigations, which are time-consuming, which are crimes that we have never had to investigate before, and just do it with no impact to…

I think the time is right. That is, frankly, why I chose to chair this Subcommittee.

The American people are pro-legal immigration and anti-illegal immigration.

But my view is that at least that view is mooted, A, if the path to citizenship is a real path and has penalties and other types of things but is reasonable.

A well-functioning immigration system is not only a part of America's legacy; it is also critical to our country's future.

I want to thank all four of our witnesses. I do not think we could have had four better witnesses to begin this, and from different perspectives each showed the need for immigration reform

I think that it ultimately becomes the difficult--the most difficult continues to be a political issue, not a substantive policy issue.

I think most Americans, at least the polling data I have seen and talking to people, their greatest fear is not this time's path to citizenship.

I could not think of four better witnesses to start off our long goal, quest, to come up with a comprehensive immigration reform bill this year.

We might be able to get something done that really stands by the basic view that Americans support, like legal immigration and do not like illegal immigration.

Last week, President Obama announced a new initiative to crack down on offshore tax havens.

I want to congratulate Jeff Sessions on his ascension to be the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee.

Excellence, legal excellence, no political hacks; moderation--I do not like judges too far right, as Jeff knows, but I also do not like judges too far left; and diversity--I try to put as many women and people of color on the bench as I…

A judge who comes to the bench with an agenda or a set of social problems he or she would like to solve is in the wrong business.

Integrity, he comes from a very hard-working immigrant family, and he has also worked to prosecute public officials for corruption.

I sure hope we confirm Tom Perez to be that Assistant Secretary.

I believe that Tom Perez will bring energy, intellect, to the office of civil rights.

I would like to pay particular attention or note particularly the letter from Nathan Hochman.

I have known Freddie for many, many years, and he is capable, dedicated, has a great business career, but always wants to be in public service.

I hope the Committee will approve Fred's nomination unanimously given his broad, wide, and deep credentials.