Pivotal Vote Limits Debate on Border Security Compromise

Countdown to final Senate immigration vote, moving closer to making history

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to limit debate on the Corker-Hoeven compromise, otherwise known as the Leahy Amendment 1183. The critical vote moves the bipartisan immigration bill forward in the process to an eventual final vote on Thursday or Friday.

Eliseo Medina, the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) Secretary-Treasurer, issued the following statement:

For many Americans, immigrant communities and advocates in the movement for commonsense immigration reform, this is a poignant moment that inspires both anticipation and bittersweet sentiment. We have processed the details of the Corker-Hoeven compromise, understanding that it entails excessive and costly measures to secure the border at the expense of taxpayers and border communities. It's not a matter we will take lightly.

"Nevertheless, today's vote on cloture on the amendment has moved us closer to making history. The concessions of the past are only part of the great compromise to win commonsense immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship--the cornerstone of what America needs in a 21st century immigration system.

"While the thirst of the usual minority of immigration reform opponents will remain unquenched, the remainder of Senators shouldn't delay on passing smart and sensible immigration legislation. They must move forward to ensure the final product lives up to our nation's values. As part of the legacy they are building today, Senators must set the example for their counterparts in the House who will have to face deliberation soon and--make no mistake--the unprecedented consensus of Americans mobilizing for reform."

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