The Service Employees International Union applauded Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul for announcing that he supports an immigration bill that would include a pathway to legalization for existing illegal immigrants. In the statement emailed to reporters (it doesn’t appear to be online) SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina said:
The diversity behind the voices in support of commonsense immigration reform continues to grow, strengthening the call for a solution this year. The GOP should heed Sen. Rand Paul’s words today and truly join the consensus that wants Congress to pass a bill that will create a just roadmap to citizenship, boost our economy and keep families together.
With more bipartisan support coming to the fore, the momentum for a real and lasting solution to our broken immigration system demonstrates the readiness of the American public. In the past few days, we have seen Greenpeace, the Evangelical community, conservative leaders and other African American groups uniting with the American majority for immigration reform.
Both, the Senate and the House must act soon to fulfill the mandate of Latino voters and range of advocates and working families that are looking to a future where we are living up to our values as a nation of immigrants and entrepreneurs.
SEIU has been one of the leading voices among labor unions in supporting comprehensive immigration reform.
UPDATE: The SEIU’s statement can be found here.
