Latino Partnership Commends Senators Coons and Rubio for Forging Bipartisan Consensus on Immigration

Calls on President Obama to Get Involved in the Discussion

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, a leading voice of Latino conservatives, commended U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) for introducing today the American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Act. The AGREE Act stems from areas of common agreement between the President's jobs plan, recommendations from the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, and plans put forward by both parties in Congress and includes a provision which eliminates per country caps on employment based immigrant visas and increases the per country cap for family-based immigrant visas from seven to fifteen percent.  This same provision is included in H.R. 3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which was passed unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee recently.  H.R. 3012 was introduced by Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and is co-sponsored by, among others, House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL).

"The impact of the AGREE Act immigration provision is quite significant.  It will go a long way to reduce the enormous immigrant visa backlog that exists for workers from countries like India and China," said Alfonso Aguilar, Executive Director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles.  "This is good news for high-tech American companies who currently have a very hard time recruiting and hiring professionals with advanced degrees from abroad simply because there are no visas available.

"H.R. 3012 will also shorten the wait for immigrant visas for people from countries like Mexico and the Philippines who want to come to the U.S. to be reunited with their families.  Under the current per country limits, individuals from certain countries have to wait excessive – and sometimes unrealistic - periods of time for a family-based immigrant visa to become available.

"While President Obama continues to demagogue the immigration issue for political purposes, Senators from both sides of the aisle are actively working on legislation that begins to put our immigration system in order.  In the House, H.R. 3012 has brought together members of Congress that normally have opposite views on immigration, from a Lamar Smith to a Luis Gutierrez.

"The latest action by the House Judiciary Committee and now Senator Rubio's leadership on the issue proves unequivocally that President Obama is not being fair or honest when he accuses Republicans of not wanting to deal with the tough issue of immigration.  Ironically, it is the President who has been missing in action from this important policy discussion. We call on Republicans and Democrats in both House and Senate to support this important measure.  And we encourage the President to stop grandstanding on immigration and get involved in the discussion of this important policy proposal."

The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles promotes conservative values and ideals within the Latino community and works to integrate Latinos into fuller and more active participation and leadership in the conservative movement. It is an initiative of American Principles in Action, a 501(c)(4) organization.

SOURCE Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles