Rep. Grijalva speaks out following Presidential address to Congress

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - We’re hearing from Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) following Pres. Joe Biden’s first major speech to Congress as president. The congressman following the President’s orders to draft up immigration reform legislation.

On Wednesday, Pres. Biden touched on this matter during his address. He’s encouraging Congress to pass the reform, which Rep. Grijalva agrees should happen and is happening.

“I think the tone that the president said about, we need to reform. And I thought the tone that he said about you have a piece of legislation that you have to deal with, and you should,” Rep. Raul Grijalva.

Grijalva says the legislation is in the works to assist with security and humanitarian treatment.

As well as, making DACA protection permanent and fully expand work visas for those traveling in and out of the country.

While the representative thinks the president spoke much on the topic, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly thinks otherwise.

Sen. Kelly says the President did not mention a plan for the immediate crisis at the border.

“I don't know what the expectation was from the senators in terms of what they wanted to hear. If they wanted to hear that the president would reinforce their call to pay the 25 million that you see us spending to send the national guard to the border, and they're disappointed that they didn't hear that. That's one thing I personally don't think the federal government should pay that money,” Grijalva added.

Grijalva is referencing a letter sent to the President from Arizona's two senators asking him to refund the state the millions of dollars.

The congressman hopes the Biden American jobs plan and relief package can assist along the border.

“There has to be a concentration of investment in the borderlands to make them safer, and also to reduce the influence of those cartels, what their influences are around criminal activities, and part of how we could deal with is to put a focus on that, but we also need to involve the people whose lives, good people. That whose lives are lived every day on that border.”

Grijalva says both parties agree things need to be enforced on the border as cartels and human smugglers continue to cross over.