"In our meeting with President Felipe Calderon last year, his commitment to strengthening the relationship between Mexico and the United States was absolutely clear.  We spoke of improving security on both sides of our common border and of the best way to strengthen our economic ties.  We also agreed on the need to reform our immigration system in a comprehensive fashion that would secure our borders, end illegal immigration, and provide immigrants with an opportunity to come out of the shadows and earn legal status.

“Much has changed since we met.  Although the House of Representatives cast a historic vote last year and approved the DREAM Act, our hopes of allowing the hundreds and thousands of DREAMers to officially become part of the only country they know as home, died in the Senate.  Despite this impasse, the CHC remains committed to our stated goal of passing comprehensive immigration reform and will continue to work to find a bipartisan solution to one of our nation’s most untenable problems.

“We have also continued our work to secure our borders.  The Obama Administration has invested an unprecedented amount of resources on our southern border and has shown a true commitment to work with the Mexican government on issues of mutual concern.  The United States’ partnership and collaboration with Mexico is necessary to ensure both countries’ economic well-being and national security, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is encouraged by the continuing conversation between President Obama and President Calderon."