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  • Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gregoire�s statement on President�s call for immigration reform

For Immediate Release: May 10, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement in response to President Obama�s El Paso speech calling on Congress to elevate the debate on immigration reform:

�I commend President Obama for his continued work to improve our nation�s immigration laws and border protection, and for ensuring the discussion continues until we see real reform. I have been calling for a comprehensive federal immigration reform package since I was elected governor.

�With Washington�s $35 billion agriculture industry at stake, Washington growers need a federal guest-worker program that is responsive, efficient and affordable. I am pleased that President Obama is open to new ideas, and hope our lawmakers in Congress intensify efforts to lead a civil debate and move forward with a legislative action to fix our broken immigration system.�