An immigration reform activist doesn't think Congress is likely to move forward with amnesty legislation this year, despite the wishes of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
On October 13, Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois) outlined the "core principles" of an amnesty bill that he plans to introduce in Congress later this year. (See related story) Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) says the legislation would be similar to other amnesty bills from previous sessions of Congress aimed at legalizing the 12-million illegal aliens currently living in the United States while making empty promises of enforcement. However, he doubts Congress is going to move as quickly as Gutierrez and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus would like. "President Obama said this summer down in Mexico [that] this is not likely to come up until next year. A lot of Democrats don't want to have to go back to their constituents and say, 'Look, we didn't get the economy in shape, we didn't get healthcare done -- but hey, we granted amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.' That's not exactly what the constituents back home are looking for them to do in Washington," explains Mehlman. "And there's probably a lot of pressure from within Congress to delay this as long as possible." The FAIR spokesman says even though Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) probably would like to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, she desires even more to retain her position as House speaker come January 2011.
On October 13, Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois) outlined the "core principles" of an amnesty bill that he plans to introduce in Congress later this year. (See related story)
Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) says the legislation would be similar to other amnesty bills from previous sessions of Congress aimed at legalizing the 12-million illegal aliens currently living in the United States while making empty promises of enforcement. However, he doubts Congress is going to move as quickly as Gutierrez and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus would like. "President Obama said this summer down in Mexico [that] this is not likely to come up until next year. A lot of Democrats don't want to have to go back to their constituents and say, 'Look, we didn't get the economy in shape, we didn't get healthcare done -- but hey, we granted amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.' That's not exactly what the constituents back home are looking for them to do in Washington," explains Mehlman. "And there's probably a lot of pressure from within Congress to delay this as long as possible." The FAIR spokesman says even though Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) probably would like to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, she desires even more to retain her position as House speaker come January 2011.
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