(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
By Brian Brant
Former President George W. Bush urged Congress in an interview on Sunday to set aside "harsh rhetoric" on immigration in order to "set a tone that is more respectful" of immigrants to lead to reform, according to CNN.
"I do want to say to Congress, please put aside all of the harsh rhetoric about immigration, please put aside trying to score political points on either side," the former Republican president told CBS News host Norah O'Donnell on "CBS Sunday Morning," while promoting his new book of paintings of immigrants, "Out of Many, One." I hope I can help set a tone that is more respectful about the immigrant, which may lead to reform of the system."
This call for action comes amid heightened scrutiny as the U.S. and President Joe Biden's administration reacts to an influx of migrants at the Southern border.
Bush pushed for immigration reform during his second term as president, pleading for a pathway to citizenship for some of the 12 million undocumented immigrants and sought to toughen border security. However, the bill stalled in the Senate in 2007.
Bush told CBS News it was one of the biggest disappointments of his presidency.
He criticized Congress's lack of action, despite executive action to make reforms, "but all that means is that Congress isn't doing its job."
"It is part of, hopefully, creating a better understanding about the role of immigrants in our society," Bush said, hoping to lobby GOP members. "Mine is just a small voice in what I hope is a chorus of people saying, 'let's see if we can't solve the problem.'"