Immigration

A Hispanic Christian group representing 15 million Hispanic evangelicals is marking Sunday as the National Day of Prayer for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, a sister organization of the National Association of Evangelicals, is urging Christians and faith communities to join in prayer for the immigration reform legislation in the Senate.

“Prayer is the greatest weapon to bring about change,” Dr. Jesse Miranda, president of the Advisory Board for the Hispanic evangelical body, said in a statement. more >>

The immigration bill waiting to be reconsidered by the Senate later this week has drawn criticisms from both the Republican Party and the Methodist Church this week as its fate hangs in limbo.

House Republicans opposed to the bill introduced a legislation Tuesday that would bar illegal immigrants from gaining legal status in the United States, increase border security, and make English the nation’s official language among other points, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The House bill contrasts with President Bush’s Senate bill, which would create a way for the some 12 million illegal immigrants in the nation to gain citizenship. more >>

WASHINGTON – The controversial immigration bill proposing to legalize millions of illegal immigrants has revived but its fate on the senate floor is unpredictable, said the top Republican senator Sunday.

“It’s a mixed picture,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on CBS’ Face the Nation. “There are good things in the bill, and not-so-good things in the bill.”

McConnell said the vote is too close to call, according to The Associated Press. more >>

WASHINGTON – At a gathering of Hispanic Christian and community leaders on Friday, President Bush pushed for support for an immigration bill that would legalize millions of unlawful immigrants, highlighting the compassion behind the bill.

Bush spoke as the keynote speaker of this year’s National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, which convenes over 750 Hispanic clergy members and community-based organization leaders to discuss how to respond to issues affecting Latinos.

Hispanic men and women were praised by Bush for making the United States more “vibrant” in fields ranging from art to business to religion, and for helping to change America for the better. more >>

WASHINGTON – As legislators negotiate how to revive an immigration bill, the once largely mum American public is using the second chance to campaign and organize massive rallies to voice their opinions in the likelihood that the controversial bill will resurface on the Senate floor in the near future.

Both supporters and opponents of the immigration reform bill began to campaign or stage rallies this week to make their voices heard in the nation’s capital.

A group of grassroots advocates kicked-off the first of their three-day March for America rally at the Washington National Monument on Thursday. During the rally, participants will urge Congress to enact tougher laws against illegal immigrants. more >>