Senator Clinton on Immigration

Hispanic Trending posted an interview today with Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who expressed support for the DREAM Act and discussed comprehensive immigration reform.  Here is what Senator Clinton had to say on immigration reform:

Sen. Hillary Clinton: I think that the broken immigration system is causing enormous hardships for those who come here legally. Processing immigration paperwork can sometimes take years due to the existing backlogs in the system. I believe we must craft a solution to this problem, so that those who come here legally can become citizens, if they so choose, in a more efficient way. I am particularly concerned about those families who are separated by our broken immigration system. The visa backlog for spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents is significant and substantial. We need a more fair process, especially for families that have been torn apart. According to the June 2007 State Department Visa Bulletin, the backlog is currently more than five years long. For some, that backlog can stretch much, much longer. That means parents are forced to live apart from their children, husbands are separated from wives, and tax-paying, law-abiding legal immigrants who are doing the right thing are treated like their families don’t matter – in some instances for a decade. If you are a lawful permanent resident and your spouse and children are caught in this long line, your family is not allowed to enter the United States even for a brief visit. You are also limited in your ability to visit your spouse and children overseas. Our current law dictates that families should be split in two – that’s wrong and that’s un-American. Legal residents who have followed all the rules should not be forced to choose between their newly-adopted country and living with their children. Five to ten years in the life of a child or a marriage is precious time that can’t be recaptured. That is why a few months ago, during the immigration debate in the Senate, I offered a bipartisan amendment, along with my colleges, Sen. Chuck Hagel (D-NE) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), to exempt spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents from the visa caps. This amendment would have helped unite these nuclear families that have been separated for far too long. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated. But I will continue fighting to bring a smart, fair, thoughtful solution to our immigration crisis.

KJ