Yesterday, the House Committee on the Budget held a hearing highlighting the contributions immigrants make to our economy, our global competitiveness, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform. After the hearing, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement:

“For far too long, the discourse of this nation around immigration has been based around fear, lies and political scapegoating. But today, we were able to hear the truth about what immigration means to this country. It’s a truth that many of our forefathers understood well as they welcomed immigrants with open arms, and it reveals that immigrants are vital to our economic growth and well-being and do not pose a threat to our public or national safety.

“Immigrants are filling gaps of labor shortages in jobs that complement—not compete with—native- born Americans. There is a clear consensus that immigrants make our economy more healthy, and despite common misconceptions, they pay more in taxes and receive less government assistance than native-born Americans. The facts are clear: From the workforce to Medicare and Social Security, our country should be supporting healthy immigration levels, not demonizing this population.

“As the Trump Administration and other Republican leaders attack immigrants through Muslim bans, limiting legal immigration, and revoking important programs like TPS and DACA, it’s refreshing to see my Democratic colleagues committed to highlighting the positive contributions of immigrants to our society. I’d like to thank Rep. Yarmouth for his leadership in the hearing and shedding light on this important issue, and I call on my Republican colleagues to acknowledge these facts and work with us to create a functioning immigration system.” 

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