The Fight for Immigration Reform Its Not Over Yet, Say Advocates

This is a special New America Media round up of reactions to the defeat of the procedural vote to limit debate on the immigration reform bill in the Senate.

The vote was certainly a disappointment. But there is going to be a major effort by senators like Edward Kennedy and Dianne Feinstein to resurrect immigration reform. Remember it also fell apart in April 2006 before it came together in the Senate again a month later. I think when people savor what it means to have nothing in place at all, they will be forced to take some actions, perhaps even in the next few weeks. Inaction is not an option. We have to fight and work for reform as hard as immigrants themselves. We need to resurrect this bill, get it passed in the Senate and move it to the House and improve it.
- Frank Sharry, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum

We are disappointed about two things in the Senate: First, we are disappointed that they came out with such a flawed and unacceptable proposal. The proposal destroys family-based immigration systems, creates a worker program that does not allow future legalization and uses a merit-based system, which is essentially a rich mans point system. Second, we are disappointed that they could not move this forward. This failure shows a lack of leadership and commitment in the Senate. Its important for our community to understand that the cloture vote does not mean that this is over. Many in our community have worked hard for this to happen. Congress owes it to our people to make it happen. Immigration is not just about policy but it is about people. We have to start calling our members of congress and the time is now, to act now, to get back to work. Its not over at all.

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