Senator Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the Senate floor Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tom highlighted the Senate’s imperative to pass a long term, comprehensive solution to fix our nation’s immigration system and improve New Mexico’s border security.

“Immigration reform has to be comprehensive, that is the reality of any long-term solution,” Udall said. “It is also a reality that such reform will not be perfect, will not satisfy everyone in every case. That’s what compromise means, that’s what bipartisan effort requires. But the American people are not asking for perfection — they are asking for results. For an immigration system that works, that makes sense, that secures our borders, that strengthens families and that supports our economy.”

Udall has introduced four amendments to the bill. Two enhance border security by adding a federal district court judge in New Mexico and expanding the Border Enforcement Security Taskforce in the Southwest border states. The remaining two provide resources for vital early warning infectious disease surveillance in all 20 border states, and expand federal grants to help maintain local roads heavily used by Border Patrol vehicles. 

“There is still work to be done,” Udall continued. “No one is arguing this bill is perfect. I have filed and cosponsored several amendments … I would urge the bill managers and authors to work with me on these amendments to improve this bill and protect New Mexico’s interests as a key border state.”

Udall has been a long supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. Recently, Udall met with several local DREAMers to discuss comprehensive immigration reform and convened his first Southwestern Border Security Task Force (BSTF) meeting. In 2003, then U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman launched the BSTF as a venue to discuss ongoing and new priorities along the border. Udall’s office has taken the helm of the BSTF since Bingaman’s retirement.