Immigration Reform Advocates Rally At U.S. Capitol

October 13, 2009 8:49 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Immigrants, workers, union leaders and advocates of progressive immigration reform from 10 cities nationwide converge at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to call for action in Congress.

Activists will gather in the morning at the Church of the Reformation in D.C., and then proceed to Congress to speak to their representatives about supporting immigration reform. They later hold a prayer vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol, where Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) , chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, will set forth principles needed for "rational and humane approach " to reform.

"We simply cannot wait any longer for a bill that keeps our families together, protects our workers and allows a pathway to legalization for those who have earned it," Gutierrez said last week.

"Saying immigration is a priority for this Administration or this Congress is not the same as seeing tangible action," he added. "The longer we wait, the more every single piece of legislation we debate will be obstructed by our failure to pass comprehensive reform."

President Barack Obama ran on a campaign platform that pledged to put in place "tough, practical, and humane immigration reform in the first year of the next administration." But his administration has been faced with the difficult task of fixing the economy, which suffered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and the nation's healthcare system.

A controversial climate change bill and education reforms that include merit pay for teachers and lengthening the school year are also priorities of the administration in its first year in office, adding to an already full legislative agenda and leaving little political capital for immigration reform.

Like healthcare, immigration overhaul is a highly divisive issue, one that even Obama's Republican predecessor failed to pass. As a senator, Obama had supported the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Bill in 2007 along with former President George W. Bush. But the bipartisan measure was defeated in the House by Republicans, who opposed amnesty for illegals and wanted more border control.

In June, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, had outlined principles for immigration reform, including "dramatically curtail[ing] future illegal immigration" and stronger control of borders "through significant additional increases in infrastructure, technology, and personnel."

Gutierrez and immigration reform advocates during their Tuesday rally will call for a bill that "creates a rigorous registration process that leads to lawful permanent resident status and eventual citizenship" and emphasizes reuniting families. They also want an independent commission to allocate employment visas instead of Congress, which they say makes the decision arbitrarily.

Apart from Gutierrez, the vigil will be led by leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.