Joe Crowley: “today I rise opposed to the Commerce- Justice-State conference report. I am opposed to this conference report because it…”

“today I rise opposed to the Commerce- Justice-State conference report. I am opposed to this conference report because it fails to include the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act, also known as LIFA. I am greatly disappointed that the Republican leadership has failed to support Latino issues as they once claimed they would. In 1996, the immigration reform law unfairly separated families and created additional obstacles for hardworking immigrants whose dream was to become productive American citizens. These provisions imposed under the Republican leadership of this House, forced many immigrants into a state of limbo. Prospective immigrants already in the United States, in the process of obtaining their green cards were and still are forced to leave the country and separate from their families, many for as long as ten years before being allowed to return to the United States. These individuals have been wrongly denied the legal status they rightfully deserved since the 1980's. The goal of immigration law in this country should be to keep families together and allow productive citizens who work hard and play by the rules to keep their current jobs, keep living in their current neighborhoods and keep paying their paying their taxes by allowing them as opportunity to become United States citizens. The lives of real people are at stake.”