Irma Palacios, national deputy director of Democracia Ahora, said the following concerning Thursday’s defeat of the cloture vote on the Senate’s immigration bill:

“We congratulate Sen. Mel Martinez for his vote in favor of cloture on the Senate’s immigration bill. Sen. Martinez clearly put the interests of Floridians and the nation above partisan politics. He was one of only six Republicans to do so.

“Sen. Martinez had said he wanted comprehensive immigration reform, and his vote proved it.

“We now call on Sen. Martinez to redouble his efforts in passing realistic comprehensive immigration reform. We can’t let the year elapse without passing a bill that secures our borders, offers the millions of undocumented workers already here a path to earned citizenship, promotes family reunification and includes a future worker program with a path to earned citizenship.

“We still firmly believe comprehensive immigration reform is possible. The country can ill afford to wait any longer for reform of a broken system that is worsening by the day.

“Other Senate Republicans should join Sen. Martinez in recognizing the enormity of the problem and the need for a solution that is realistic, humane and that honors our nation’s history as a country of immigrants.”