WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) released the following statement reacting to the executive actions on immigration announced tonight by President Barack Obama:

“The President’s interim step is about trying to fix a broken system that hurts our economy, families, and border security.

“The ideal action is the bipartisan, Senate-passed legislation, but that bill has been blocked and ignored by House Republicans.  Sadly, for 511 days they’ve had no realistic response to the Senate’s bill, which includes $46.3 billion to strengthen the border, bigger penalties for those who come illegally, and a tough but fair pathway to citizenship for immigrants already here who have become part of our communities and our economy.

“My hope is that rather than threatening to shut down the government and the like, my Republican colleagues will instead respond to the President’s announcement by passing the bill, written by Senator McCain and others, to comprehensively fix our broken immigration system.”

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