CAPAC Chair Judy Chu Releases Statement on President’s Immigration Speech

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), today issued the following statements in response to the President's speech on immigration.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32): “Two-thirds of Asian Pacific Americans are immigrants and refugees. But too often, we spend too much money building fences along the border and funding immigration police that frequently target citizen families and students whose only transgression was to come to America in search of freedom and the opportunity to pursue their dreams. I agree with the President that the U.S. shouldn’t be in the business of splitting up families, and I am glad to see he is raising the issue of comprehensive immigration reform. We’ve already tripled border patrol. It is time to focus more on a humane system that provides a pathway to citizenship. While Congressional Republicans continue to block hopes of comprehensive reform, I encourage the President to use his executive authority to stop the breakup of families through harmful deportations. ”

Rep. Michael Honda (CA-15): “President Obama reiterated his commitment to reforming our country’s immigration system through compassionate, comprehensive legislation, suggesting that America’s immigrants – whether they have arrived by the Mayflower, slave ship, Ellis Island or the Rio Grande – are one people.  I couldn’t agree more.  For many American families who remain estranged from siblings and parents overseas, that sentiment seems out of reach, which is why I reintroduced the Reuniting Families Act last week to fix this problem by allowing all Americans to be reunited with their families, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender permanent partners. The Reuniting Families Act represents a giant step forward in that commitment and provides a blueprint that respects families, strengthens our economy and fixes a badly broken system. I urge Congress to take action now. For every day Congress delays, more families face separation. Until we achieve comprehensive immigration reform, we will continue to have two Americas. One that has realized the American Dream and one where millions of our friends, neighbors, and coworkers live in the shadows, separated from their families by a broken immigration system. Every day we wait, our economy loses hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue and consumer spending. Immigration reform would yield $1.5 trillion to the US GDP over a ten year period. This is what I call economic recovery. We need to be one nation, indivisible. Today, President Obama called for the public to rally behind the idea of comprehensive immigration reform.  I am very supportive, and I know many of my colleagues are as well. We have been waiting for this moment and stand ready to work with the President on this legislation. The President should help guide Members by laying out a legislative model of what he envisions in the reform process.” 

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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently Chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.