Harry Reid: No Immigration Reform Is Costing Jobs

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reacted to Thursday’s jobs report by charging that Republican failure to pass immigration reform is costing Americans jobs. 

Thursday the Bureau of Labor Statics reported that the economy added 288,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percent to 6.1 percent. The labor force participation rate held at 62.8 percent.

Reid called the report “good news,” but said there are too many people still struggling. 

According to Reid, Democrats have offered proposals to help the middle class, and Republicans have failed to move them forward, specifically immigration reform.

“Over a year ago the Senate passed bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. The Senate’s legislation would have reduced the deficit by $200 billion over the next ten years, more than all waiting House bills combined. Additionally, comprehensive immigration reform would have added an average of 121,000 more jobs per year over the next ten years,” he said.

“Unfortunately, House Republicans, under the influence of the Tea Party, refused to bring it up for a vote. Their refusal is costing our economy added growth that we need,” he added. 

Monday President Obama announced he would be taking unilateral administrative action to reform the nation’s immigration laws due to Congressional intransigence. 

“America cannot wait forever for them to act. That’s why today I am beginning a new effort to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, without Congress,” Obama said in the Rose Garden Monday.

Meanwhile, a report from the Center for Immigration Studies argued that net gains in employment since 2000 have gone to immigrants.