This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/27/national-council-raza-immigration-reform
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Latino leaders say 'it is past time' for American immigration reform | Latino leaders say 'it is past time' for American immigration reform |
| (4 months later) | |
| The leader of one of the biggest Latino organisations in the US expressed confidence Wednesday that the long-sought immigration reform bill will be on the floor of the Senate by June, paving the way for it to become law before the end of the year. | The leader of one of the biggest Latino organisations in the US expressed confidence Wednesday that the long-sought immigration reform bill will be on the floor of the Senate by June, paving the way for it to become law before the end of the year. |
| Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, was speaking at the launch in Washington of a mass mobilisation campaign, backed by 34 of the biggest Latino organisations, to put pressure on members of Congress that have been wavering on the issue or are undecided. | Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, was speaking at the launch in Washington of a mass mobilisation campaign, backed by 34 of the biggest Latino organisations, to put pressure on members of Congress that have been wavering on the issue or are undecided. |
| The new initiative came as Republican and Democratic senators, members of the so-called "group of eight" involved in drafting a bill toured the US-Mexican border in Arizona to see at first hand the security problems. They broke up for the Easter recess without reaching agreement. | The new initiative came as Republican and Democratic senators, members of the so-called "group of eight" involved in drafting a bill toured the US-Mexican border in Arizona to see at first hand the security problems. They broke up for the Easter recess without reaching agreement. |
| In spite of their failure to find a deal, momentum is gathering behind reform. Murguia, speaking about the group of eight, said: "There has been a lot of good progress. I know a lot of that has been behind the scenes, but we have seen a lot of the bipartisan negotiations continue. And we understand they are very close to introducing a bill that will then be considered in the (Senate) committees within the months of April and May and that we will see for consideration on the floor by June." | In spite of their failure to find a deal, momentum is gathering behind reform. Murguia, speaking about the group of eight, said: "There has been a lot of good progress. I know a lot of that has been behind the scenes, but we have seen a lot of the bipartisan negotiations continue. And we understand they are very close to introducing a bill that will then be considered in the (Senate) committees within the months of April and May and that we will see for consideration on the floor by June." |
| Murguia said the failure to reach a deal before the break should not necessarily be viewed as a disappointment. | Murguia said the failure to reach a deal before the break should not necessarily be viewed as a disappointment. |
| "We are hoping that this time being spent up front to get as much consensus will pay off as we go through the legislative process. That is our hope and expectation. (But) we are not going to rely on hopes and expectations and this is what this campaign is all about," Marguia said. | "We are hoping that this time being spent up front to get as much consensus will pay off as we go through the legislative process. That is our hope and expectation. (But) we are not going to rely on hopes and expectations and this is what this campaign is all about," Marguia said. |
| The 34 Latino organisations, united under an umbrella organisation the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, are to sponsor at least 60 town-hall meetings across the country and also lobby members of Congress. The NHLA promised 100,000 meetings, letters, emails, calls, faxes or and tweets directed at members of Congress. | The 34 Latino organisations, united under an umbrella organisation the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, are to sponsor at least 60 town-hall meetings across the country and also lobby members of Congress. The NHLA promised 100,000 meetings, letters, emails, calls, faxes or and tweets directed at members of Congress. |
| The NHLA described it as "the largest Latino grassroots mobilisation in our nation's history". | The NHLA described it as "the largest Latino grassroots mobilisation in our nation's history". |
| Hector Sanchez, chair of the NHLA, said: "The 2012 elections saw greater Hispanic participation than ever before. It is past time that our elected leaders hear our voices. | Hector Sanchez, chair of the NHLA, said: "The 2012 elections saw greater Hispanic participation than ever before. It is past time that our elected leaders hear our voices. |
| "We will travel the country building a grassroots network that will ensure Congress hears our message loud and clear: fair, effective, comprehensive immigration reform before the August recess." | "We will travel the country building a grassroots network that will ensure Congress hears our message loud and clear: fair, effective, comprehensive immigration reform before the August recess." |
| Barack Obama, who on Monday pressed Congress to act quickly on immigration reform, was set to push home the message Wednesday in two interviews with Spanish-speaking media outlets. | Barack Obama, who on Monday pressed Congress to act quickly on immigration reform, was set to push home the message Wednesday in two interviews with Spanish-speaking media outlets. |
| The House, where the Republicans have a majority, could potentially be more awkward than the Senate. Marguia, speaking after the press conference, was hopeful that the House will go ahead with a bill given that the Speaker John Boehner and other senior Republicans had voiced support, as well as Republican senators close to the Tea Party such as Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. | The House, where the Republicans have a majority, could potentially be more awkward than the Senate. Marguia, speaking after the press conference, was hopeful that the House will go ahead with a bill given that the Speaker John Boehner and other senior Republicans had voiced support, as well as Republican senators close to the Tea Party such as Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. |
| Republican senator John McCain, one of the group of eight, said before heading off to the US-Mexico border: "We've been working literally night and day. And we may not succeed. But the other members of this negotiating team, I believe, are negotiating in good faith. We've made progress in a number of areas that I am encouraged by, but there are still areas that we are not in agreement." | Republican senator John McCain, one of the group of eight, said before heading off to the US-Mexico border: "We've been working literally night and day. And we may not succeed. But the other members of this negotiating team, I believe, are negotiating in good faith. We've made progress in a number of areas that I am encouraged by, but there are still areas that we are not in agreement." |
| The bill being negotiated would offer a path to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million undocumented workers but they will have to go to the back of the queue, behind people who have applied through the normal immigration process. | The bill being negotiated would offer a path to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million undocumented workers but they will have to go to the back of the queue, behind people who have applied through the normal immigration process. |
| The draft bill also proposes protections for the children of immigrants who came to the US illegally, improving border security, a visa system to allow in high-skilled workers wanted by the IT industry and low-skilled and cheap workers wanted by the agricultural industry, and more checks on businesses to ensure they are not employing workers in the country illegally. | The draft bill also proposes protections for the children of immigrants who came to the US illegally, improving border security, a visa system to allow in high-skilled workers wanted by the IT industry and low-skilled and cheap workers wanted by the agricultural industry, and more checks on businesses to ensure they are not employing workers in the country illegally. |
| A poll conducted on behalf the the Small Business Majority published Wednesday found 67% of small business owners in favour of immigration reform, seeing immigrants as a driving force in entrepreneurship. The internet poll of 500 small business owners across America was conducted between March 4 and 10. | A poll conducted on behalf the the Small Business Majority published Wednesday found 67% of small business owners in favour of immigration reform, seeing immigrants as a driving force in entrepreneurship. The internet poll of 500 small business owners across America was conducted between March 4 and 10. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |