Washington, DC (March 22, 2007) – Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) issued the following statement regarding the announcement today of bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation, Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy (STRIVE) Act of 2007.

“I applaud Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Jeff Flake for their efforts to address comprehensive immigration reform. It is clear that our immigration system is broken, and it is critical that we have legislation in this country that offers up a sensible solution. This bill recognizes the fact that we cannot fix our immigration process without addressing all sides of the equation—enforcement, border security, processing backlogs, our workforce needs, and our large population of undocumented immigrants. Most importantly, this bill presents Congress with a reasonable launching point from which I believe we will be able to craft broad reform.

“As chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Education Taskforce, I am particularly pleased to see the inclusion of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act in Congress’s renewed quest for immigration reform. Without this legislation, too many of our nation's talented immigrant students will be forced to forego their pursuit of a higher education. It is essential that we provide a way for our undocumented students who grew up in this country to attend college, have access to financial aid and grants, and earn legal permanent residency.

“America has long been known as the land of opportunity—a country that affords men and women the chance to seek a better life and pursue the American Dream. But we must bring our immigration policy into the 21st Century. This bill will help us begin that process. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that this crucial issue is not pushed to the backburner once again.”