Update from Congressman Will Hurd, Jan. 15, 2015

Washington, D.C. — Working to fulfill his promise to find solutions that will secure our border and enforce our laws, Republican Representative Will Hurd of Texas intends to vote to pass the House appropriations bill that will fund the Department of Homeland Security and stop the President’s executive overreach on immigration policy.

“It’s pretty simple. No president should make immigration policy through executive action, especially when it incentivizes illegal immigration, as we experienced last summer,” said Hurd, Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on Homeland Security. “Legal immigrants are a valuable part of our nation and its economy, and any changes to our immigration policy should come from Congress. I look forward to working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to fix our broken immigration system.”

San Antonio banker and immigration reform advocate, Eddie Aldrete, said, “With Congressman Hurd’s experience handling consular work while he was an undercover officer in the CIA, he knows first-hand how we need to improve our immigration system. He knows that the only true, permanent fix to the immigration problem is through congressional action, not executive orders. We need someone like Will to fight for real solutions.”

Jesse Hereford, Chairman of the Border Trade Alliance, voiced his support for Hurd’s decision. “We’re glad Congressman Hurd is voting for this authorization of DHS. He understands that securing the border and facilitating international commerce can be done simultaneously, and is in the best interest for all Americans.”

Judge Nick Gallegos, Executive Director of the Middle Rio Grande Development Council, said, “Congressman Hurd gets the importance of protecting the American worker and the need to streamline our legal immigration system. I hope the Senate and the President will work with Will on fixing our broken system.”

“This is an issue I know well and I’m confident that we can find a solution that protects the American worker and fosters economic growth. We have benefited from the ‘brain drain’ of every other country for the last couple of decades and I want that to continue. I want our nation to benefit from a ‘hard working drain’ too, so if you are going to be a productive member of our society, let’s keep you here or get you here as quick as possible, but we must do it legally,” Hurd said.