immigration reform 2013
Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack's patronizing remark about clothing to one of his constituents at a town hall meet last week went viral, bringing out a non-apology apology from the U.S. Representative about the spirit of his comments.
At the town hall, the constituent - who's name is difficult to understand in this YouTube video - identifies himself as a Mexican-American from Fort Smith, Arkansas. Speaking with unaccented English, the young man, who is wearing a Mexican-flag colored polo shirt, describes having two Mexican parents and questions if Womack sees any hope for immigration reform to help create a pathway to citizenship for the eleven million undocumented residents of the United States.
With a military conflict in Syria looming on the immediate horizon for a Congress already pressed for time, immigration reform advocates are worried that the issue of undocumented residents will fall to the wayside of an overcrowded calendar.
In the shadow of the March on Washington, pro-immigration supporters across the nation this past weekend staged several marches, demonstrations and vigils in efforts to get Congress to support immigration reform.
Senator John McCain (R - AZ) told a town hall meeting in Mesa, Arizona that he remains "guardedly optimistic" that the House of Representatives will pass immigration reform this year.
On Friday, the Obama administration announced a new policy that will help avoid the deportation of undocumented parents who have minor children.
The divide between the right wing and the left over immigration reform has been fraught for years, with Democrats demanding a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers (i.e. illegal immigrants who came to the states as children) and Republicans expressing anxiety about the porousness of the US's southern border with Mexico and the stress an influx of new citizens could put on an already struggling economy. Now, with the passage of the gang of eight immigration reform bill, political allegiances are being redrawn.
In the state of Arizona, United States a series of raids have left more than 200 undocumented immigrants arrested.
The “One Million Voices for Reform” group wants to take action to achieve full acceptance of an immigration reform in the United States. This rally is planned for September 22nd.
With the House gearing up for a vote on immigration reform, groups from many walks of life, including business and religious entities, are making their voices heard.
The GOP's political future appears tied to the fate of immigration reform as a controversial Senate bill awaits a vote in the House sometime this fall--yet one of Washington's top Republicans said the chances of a bill passing this year are better than most realize.
In a possible sign of a shift in attitude for Republicans on the controversial subject of immigration reform, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus this week offered public rebukes on controversial remarks regarding immigrants made by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, and former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Senator Marco Rubio (R - Florida) has taken to the airwaves to urge the House of Representatives to push the immigration bill through after the Congressional recess of August, stating that if they don't, Democratic President Barack Obama may just find a way to issue the law by executive order.
With the U.S. House looming closer to a vote on the controversial immigration bill this fall, key legislators and advocates in favor of the bill have intensified the pressure on several fronts to persuade House Republicans to pass the legislation.
Sen. John McCain continued his push for immigration reform in Congress while speaking at a forum hosted by AFL-CIO and the Economic Policy Institute on Tuesday.
President Obama will be visiting several major Spanish-speaking networks this week as he attempts to garner more public support while the House mulls over the Senate's immigration reform proposal on the table.
