Reps. DeGette, Gutierrez & Polis Hold Forum With Community To Discuss Immigration Reform

DENVER – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) today joined with her colleagues Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) and Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02) to hold a forum with hundreds of members of the community to discuss the critical need for immigration reform. The forum was an opportunity for the public to hear from the Members of Congress about their efforts on immigration, as well as a chance for members of the public to tell their own story in order to offer input to the Members to take back to D.C. as legislation is drafted in Congress.

The U.S. deports 1,000 people per day and in 2012 a record 400,000-plus deportations took place. Families still wait years or decades for loved ones to receive a visa and businesses who would like to hire people legally find our system too clogged and cumbersome to use.

"Change is desperately needed. I frequently hear stories from individuals whose family has been torn apart, or from individuals who are trying to do the right thing but are having so much difficulty with our current system that they want to give up," said DeGette. "We need comprehensive reform that will bring people out of the shadows, that incorporates the DREAMers, that will end the exploitation of U.S. and immigrant workers, and reform that attracts the best and the brightest investors, innovators, and skilled professionals."

"I am enthusiastic about the progress we are making in a bipartisan way on immigration reform in Washington and so glad to have a chance to stand with allies in Colorado like Diana DeGette and Jared Polis to build support.? I have been in Washington long enough to know that if the people outside the Capitol are not demanding action from the people inside the Capitol — every day, loud, in every conceivable way — it just won't happen.? That is the only way we break through the gridlock on immigration that has lasted decades," said Gutierrez.

"I am excited to join Congresswoman DeGette and Congressman Gutierrez in calling on Coloradans to rally around the need to pass comprehensive immigration reform now. While the announcement of Deferred Action for young people who are in the United States through no fault of their own was an important step, it is now time to fix our broken immigration system once and for all. I am optimistic about our chances of passing comprehensive immigration reform, but we have to make our voices heard in Colorado and throughout the country to ensure swift action is taken in Washington," said Polis.

"It was wonderful to see such a strong turn-out today, demonstrating how many people care deeply about this issue," concluded DeGette. "The stories we've heard today are a critical message that Representatives Gutierrez and Polis and I can carry back to D.C. as part of the discussion."

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