John McCain & Lindsey Graham Want You to Know Boston Bombings Won't Slow Immigration Reform

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Friday released a statement saying that despite the week's events with the Boston Marathon bombing, it won’t deter or slow their efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Here’s their statement, released before the capture of 19-year-old suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev:

In the wake of this week’s terrorist attack in Boston, some have already suggested that the circumstances of this terrible tragedy are justification for delaying or stopping entirely the effort for comprehensive immigration reform.

In fact the opposite is true: Immigration reform will strengthen our nation’s security by helping us identify exactly who has entered our country and who has left – a basic function of government that our broken immigration system is incapable of accomplishing today. The status quo is unacceptable.

We have 11 million people living in the shadows, which leaves this nation vulnerable to a myriad of threats. That is all the more reason why comprehensive immigration reform is so essential.

By modernizing our system of legal immigration, identifying and conducting background checks on people here illegally, and finally securing our border, we will make America more secure.

Graham and McCain have since weighed in in support of classifying Tsarnaev as an “enemy combatant” and approve of the decision not to immediately read him his Miranda rights.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image Getty Images

--

​Related:

• Former DOJ Attorney Says Gov’t Is Making a Mistake Not Reading Boston Suspect His Miranda Rights — What You Need to Know
• Boston Bombing Suspect Is Not Being Read His Miranda Rights — Why and What Does That Mean?
• Lindsey Graham: Obama Should Hold Bombing Suspect as ‘Enemy Combatant’