Harrisonburg, Va.—The U.S. Senate passed the historic, bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill that will provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants living and working among us. The bill will head to the U.S. House of Representatives, where Virginia’s Congressional leaders will have a strong role to play in the future of immigration reform.

 

Virginia Organizing Chairperson Sandra A. Cook said, “Virginia Organizing is optimistic and hopeful about immigration reform now that the U.S. Senate has passed the comprehensive immigration reform bill with a strong bipartisan vote. We know that there are some challenges to overcome in the U.S. House of Representatives, and we hope that under the House Judiciary Committee leadership of Congressman Bob Goodlatte and the House leadership of Majority Leader Congressman Eric Cantor, a comprehensive immigration bill will pass so we can all move forward.”

 

Sandy Mercer, Virginia Organizing Chapter leader and teacher in the Shenandoah Valley, said, “Without immigration reform, many outstanding students I teach have little hope for a positive future. We have a window of opportunity to pass immigration reform that is fair and just and replaces our broken system with one that does not divide families and communities.”

 

“Virginia Organizing is especially thankful for the work of our Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine,” said Cook. “We know that our Senators see the important benefits of immigration reform and we hope that the rest of Congress understands the economic and human benefits of the swift passage of this legislation. This can’t wait. Immigration reform is too important.”

 

Virginia Organizing will continue to support the comprehensive immigration reform bill as it moves through the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

To interview a spokesperson for Virginia Organizing, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org.