Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: 56 Votes for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Assistant Majority Leader Durbin: Let’s Do This Now

Washington D.C.  – This weekend at major rallies in Las Vegas and Chicago, the Democratic Leadership of the United States Senate made an unequivocal commitment to moving comprehensive immigration reform this year. At a Las Vegas rally with ten thousand supporters of immigration reform, Senator Harry Reid said “We’re going to come back, we’re going to have comprehensive immigration reform now…We need to do this this year. We cannot wait.” His explicit commitment to reform is the leadership America needs to solve one of the country’s toughest problems. Similarly at a rally with advocates in Chicago, Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin said “We must pass immigration reform, we must pass it this year…I stand in solidarity with you… we will prevail!”

Further, Senator Reid said that there are 56 votes for comprehensive immigration reform in the United States Senate. “I’ve got 59 Democratic senators, all but 3 would support this,” said Reid.  ”I want a handful of Republicans, a few Republicans, let them step forward…There is no excuse.”

Indeed, Americans don’t want more excuses from their elected leaders. They want results. It’s time for Democrats and Republicans to stop making excuses, to stop saying it’s difficult, and to stop saying it can’t be done. It’s time to deliver.

Tens of thousands turned out at immigration reform events all over the country. In Seattle, ten thousand heard Senate Majority Conference Leader Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell reiterate their strong commitment to immigration reform this year. In El Paso, thousands turned out to pressure their elected leaders to support comprehensive immigration reform. Events in Providence, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Albany attracted thousands. Americans all over the country, at more than ten events, told the United States Senate: No more dithering, no more delay; We want action on comprehensive immigration reform.

“With explicit support – to do it this year – from key leaders in the U.S. Senate, and the President, Senators Schumer and Graham should introduce their legislation immediately,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum and Chair of the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign. “The Senate should consider the legislation without delay and pass a bill this year. The rallies on April 10^th are demonstrative of the wide swath of support for comprehensive immigration reform legislation and are just a taste of the activity and momentum building that Senators should expect in their states in the next few months. We agree with the majority of America: it’s time to get this done.”