Support for immigration reform increases dramatically among white evangelical Christians if the polling question mentions that specific requirements must be met for current unauthorized immigrants to qualify for citizenship. This was the finding of new research conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and The Brookings Institution.

As The Christian Post previously reported using PRRI's poll, white evangelical Christians have the lowest level of support for immigration reform of any major religious and race or ethnic group. Last week, PRRI released the results of an experimental study that was included in the same survey.

For the experiment, PRRI divided part of their sample into three different groups. For each group, they asked respondents in three different ways if they supported a path to citizenship. more >>

The bombings in Boston last week have entered the debate over immigration reform. Some are suggesting the immigration reform effort should be delayed to consider what can be gleaned from the attacks to improve the immigration system, while others suggest that the attacks demonstrate the need to reform the system soon.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) first suggested that the immigration debate be put on hold due to the bombings in Boston.

"Given the events of this week, it is important for us to understand the gaps and loopholes in our immigration system," Grassley said during a Friday committee hearing on immigration reform. more >>

The U.S. Senate's bipartisan "gang of eight" unveiled the immigration reform bill they had been working on for months at a Thursday press conference.

"Our immigration system is broken and it is time for a national conversation about how to fix it," the senators said in a joint statement. "We believe common sense immigration reform is vital in order to secure America's borders, advance our economic growth, and provide fuller access to the American dream."

The gang of eight includes four Republicans – Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), John McCain (Ariz.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) – and four Democrats – Michael Bennet (Colo.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Robert Menendez (N.J.) and Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) more >>

WASHINGTON – Pastor Bill Hybels told hundreds of fellow evangelicals gathered in Washington, D.C., Wednesday that he was praying a "Philippians 4-style" prayer to advocate for immigration reform.

"How should we pray?" asked Hybels, senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill. Should his prayer be a "cover thou's backside" type of prayer, a "do what we tell You to do" prayer, or a Philippians 4 type of prayer?

The service, at Church of the Reformation just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, was part of an all-day event, billed as the "Evangelical Day of Prayer and Action for Immigration Reform," organized by the Evangelical Immigration Table that also included meetings with members of Congress. The worship music was led by OneVoice Gospel Choir of Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio. more >>

A group of evangelical Christian leaders challenged claims on Wednesday that a recent bill filed by a bipartisan group of senators on immigration reform constitutes amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The bipartisan group of four Republican and four Democrat senators formally filed the bill that if accepted into law would constitute the most significant overhaul of immigration laws in at least 26 years. The bill's hallmark feature is the inclusion of a 13-year pathway to citizenship for almost 11 million undocumented immigrants in America.

Critics of the bill, cited mainly as Republicans, have argued that the pathway to citizenship in the bill is its "fatal flaw" and constituted amnesty. more >>

WASHINGTON – Over 300 evangelicals representing 25 states gathered in the nation's capitol Wednesday for worship, prayer and meetings with members of Congress in an effort to bring about comprehensive immigration reform.

The events, organized by the Evangelical Immigration Table (EIT), began with a press conference in front of the Capitol, followed by a praise and worship service a few blocks away at Church of the Reformation, a prayer walk, and over 80 meetings with senators and representatives.

"We're here to say that immigration reform has strong evangelical support," said the Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition. more >>