Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tabled the comprehensive immigration reform debate citing the need for the Republican party to gather more support for the legislation.
"We’re at a critical moment and first and foremost, senators need to hear from constituents that now is the time to get to ‘Yes’ on comprehensive immigration reform,” says Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA’s vice president for government relations.
According to Regelbrugge, already this year, 1,169 immigration-related bills have been proposed in states and municipalities. This is more than twice the 570 bills proposed in 2006. Experts suggest that failure to achieve comprehensive reform will open the floodgates to non-federal action, much of it targeting employers and the hard-working immigrant people they employ.
“We will all be well-served by a system that is fair, rewards work, and restores the rule of law,” Regelbrugge says.
According to sources on Capital Hill, and first-hand reports from ANLA members who were in lobbying this past week, Regelbrugge states that the opponents of reform are calling, in some cases, literally every day.
“It’s time to do your part, and think about how you can encourage employees, family, others to weigh in now. The present stability and future growth and success of our industry depends on it,” Regelbrugge says.
For more information or a sample message to use when contacting your senator, visit Legislative Action at www.anla.org or contact Bob DeGemmis at ANLA rdegemmis@anla.org or call 202/789-2900.