On December 9, 2009, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano confirmed her stance that immigration enforcement is a necessity and must be achieved in conjunction with comprehensive reform of the United States’ broken immigration system. Secretary Napolitano stated, "We can no longer perpetuate a status quo that is unacceptable for workers, employers, law enforcement, faith leaders, and America as a whole. We must seize this moment to build a truly effective immigration system that deters illegal immigration, provides effective and enduring enforcement tools, protects workers from exploitation and retaliation, and creates a tough but fair path to legalization for the millions of illegal immigrants already here."

This statement, made at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, reiterates the position of the Obama Administration and its intent to present a proposal for comprehensive immigration reform to Congress in early 2010.