Beto O'Rourke: “I am very honored to be here today to speak on the topic of immigration reform, immigration reform that is humane, that…”

“I am very honored to be here today to speak on the topic of immigration reform, immigration reform that is humane, that is rational, that is fiscally responsible, and to be doing so with the guidance and leadership of Congressman Cardenas, my friend from California, who despite his short tenure in Congress has really emerged as a leader on this very important issue--important to me, important to the community I represent in El Paso, Texas, important to our State, and important to our country. Frankly, just to extend it one more time, important to the world, because I think the world's eyes are on us today, they're on us as we decide how we are going to respond to this opportunity, this once in a 20- or 30-year opportunity to make meaningful, positive changes in our broken immigration system, because as Steny Hoyer said earlier, ``we are proudly a Nation of immigrants.'' I'm sure it is this way for the gentleman from California, but for me the moral and ethical reasons are the most compelling--to do the right thing for those people who are already in our communities, for the people who have so much to offer who have yet to come to our shores and will add to the economy, to the civic strength of our communities and make the places that we live in and the country that we call home a better place. I think of Edgar Falcon, a constituent of mine, a U.S. citizen, who is working.…”