WASHINGTON, DC -- The Service Employees International Union applauds the growing momentum on Capitol Hill for commonsense immigration reform. On the eve of President Obama's scheduled announcement of immigration principles that are expected to include a pathway to citizenship for current immigrants in the U.S. without documents, a bipartisan group of senators is issuing a similar recommendation, according to news reports.

SEIU's International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina issued the following statement:

Tomorrow, President Obama will announce his plan for immigration reform, reaffirming his pledge to make this his top legislative priority in 2013. Now comes word that Democrats and Republicans in the Senate are placing on the table their own framework for a legislative package that includes a pathway to citizenship.

"This bipartisan effort shows how much momentum there is for real commonsense immigration reform that sustains our economy and values workers, families and our heritage as a nation of immigrants.

"It's great to see Senators from both parties working together to accomplish something so important for our nation's future. Congress is catching up to what the public has supported for a long while now: the nation needs a long-term fix for the immigration system that includes a path to full citizenship for immigrants here without papers. We all understand that a well-functioning immigration system will help grow our economy and raise the wage floor for all workers.

"In a recent bipartisan poll, almost four out of five voters said they back a system that would include earned citizenship, require immigrants to pay taxes, hold employers accountable for hiring legal workers and prevent them from exploiting immigrant labor and improving border security.

"We know that there is still a long way to go and that details will be worked out in coming weeks, but we are very encouraged by the Senate's push forward. We are also aware that the House is engaging in a similar process, and we look forward to hearing from them as well."

"It's up to Congress to get something done. The time is now."

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