Virginia Senator Kaine’s pro-immigration reform Senate speech – en español

Virginia Democratic Senator and former Governor Tim Kaine surprised the Senate – and those who were closely following the Senate speeches – by delivering an impassioned speech – all in very good Spanish.

“English colonists landed in Jamestown in 1607, and helped start the great history of our nation as a nation of immigrants – said Kaine in Spanish as he was concluding his speech on Tuesday. “I hope we can start a new chapter, and we can send a strong message to the nation and the world that we are a country of laws, but also one of justice and opportunity.”

Kaine started the speech by saying he was doing it in Spanish, the language first spoken in St. Augustine, Florida in 1565 and currently spoken by 40 million in the U.S.  The Virginia Senator said this immigration debate was for DREAMers like young Isabel Castillo, brought here when she was young, who graduated magna cum laude but could not get a scholarship due to her status.

Kaine said the current immigration bill “no es perfecto” but it does guarantee border security, eliminates visa waits, and strengthens our employment verification system.  He also stressed the bill’s path to citizenship was an earned path to citizenship, “no amnistía.”

In order for the U.S. to be the most talented country, we need to address the flaws in our current system, Kaine said.

The Virginia Senator’s Spanish was quite good – it turns out he taught at a Jesuit school in Honduras.  Kaine’s state of Virginia is now over 8 percent Latino.

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