This weekend, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of the key players in the effort to pass immigration reform, appeared on CNN’s State of the Union. He expressed hope that a reform bill can be passed, noting “The time is now.” Chairman Leahy...
Continue
»
In big news from this weekend, Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker has joined other pro-immigration reform Republicans in supporting a path to citizenship. Sen. John McCain appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” to talk about how Republicans shouldn’t fear getting primaried if they support immigration reform. And Frank Sharry,...
Continue
»
Feb 22, 2013
Momentum is building each day for immigration reform, with a full-throated legislative debate set to start next month. Today, America’s Voice Education Fund and fellow immigration experts held the first in a series of weekly press briefings, or Immigration Reform “Office Hours.” Each week, a different and diverse group of speakers...
Continue
»
Yesterday was a good day for immigration reform prospects, as the AFL/CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a set of shared principles that generated praise and optimism from observers ranging from White House press secretary Jay Carney to House Majority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA). However, House Judiciary Committee Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) seems...
Continue
»
It’s been a busy week in immigration, with a key business and labor group releasing their shared principles for immigration reform, Senators holding town halls in their home states, the launch of the new Alliance for Citizenship, and the leak of the White House immigration bill. To talk about...
Continue
»
As we’ve said before, pro-citizenship and common sense immigration reform stances are the mainstream in the immigration debate—an argument bolstered by a range of national polling, including two new polls out today. According to separate surveys by both Bloomberg and the Pew Research Center, public support for immigration that includes a pathway to citizenship remains vast...
Continue
»
“The only thing that stops them, and I’m afraid to say but it’s too damn bad, but is a gun. That’s all that will stop them,” said one. “Cut off their welfare and their stuff and they’ll go back!” another said. These are just a few choice quotes shouted...
Continue
»
While cable news channels have been in its usual hysterics over a few hard-core anti-immigrant cranks showing up at a Senator John McCain town hall meeting this week, the person most unbothered by those cranks has been Senator John McCain himself. He dismissed the confrontation as a normal event,...
Continue
»
The buzz in news this week involves a recent John McCain town hall event in Arizona, where he was heckled by anti-immigrant opponents shouting about stopping immigrants with guns and expressing beliefs that all immigrants are on welfare (actually, they’re not eligible). In contrast to the extremism in Arizona, we want to share this video...
Continue
»
Feb 20, 2013
On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” today, NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd reiterated his optimism that immigration reform will pass this year. Said Todd, “Just one number you need to know: 71. That was the percentage of Hispanics that Obama won…It’s gonna happen.” Whether one relies on the 71% figure from...
Continue
»