America's Voice Blog

Posted 06/24/09 at 02:43pm

Senate Leadership Show Support for Reform Before White House Immigration Meeting

MSNBC

Yesterday Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) reiterated that he's got the votes to move immigration reform forward, and soon.

Today MSNBC's Mark Murray cites America's Voice Executive Director, Frank Sharry, in "Immigration reformers press WH:"

In advance of President Obama's meeting tomorrow to discuss immigration reform with congressional Democrats and Republicans, immigration advocates held a conference call today with reporters, urging the Obama administration to make immigration a priority -- this year. [...]

Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, said it was smart policy and smart politics to take up immigration reform. He noted that Obama was elected in no small part because independent voters thought he and the Democrats were best able to find solutions to challenging problems like immigration. He also said Republicans "will have a huge price to pay" if they are seen as blocking immigration reform and scapegoating immigrants and Latinos.

Murray continues, "Asked about Robert Gibbs' recent comment that the "math" might be against immigration reform this year, Sharry replied, 'When it comes to counting votes in the U.S. Congress, we tend to look to Harry Reid before Robert Gibbs.'"

Also big news today, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the number three Democratic leader in the Senate, came out strong for reform at a meeting held by the Migration Policy Institute.

Roll Call's Jessica Brady reports in "Schumer Says Immigration Reform Will Happen:"

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) maintained Wednesday that Congress will tackle comprehensive immigration reform this Congress, and perhaps even this year.

All of the fundamental building blocks are in place to pass comprehensive immigration reform this session and, even possibly, later this year,” Schumer, the No. 3 Democratic leader, said during a speech before the Migration Policy Institute.

Schumer, chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, outlined key principles that must be part a reform bill, including strong enforcement of illegal immigration, an employer-based verification system and a direct path to citizenship.

The Democratic Conference vice chairman, who will join a group of lawmakers at the White House on Thursday for a summit on immigration, underscored “the intensity for solving this problem once and for all” this year. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has similarly suggested that immigration must be tackled sooner rather than later.

These are all more encouraging signs that point toward reform moving forward this year. Now, advocates will be asking to see the road map.

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