Media
Forum in the News
Democrats back leaked immigration plan
February 17, 2013 - San Antonio Express-News
A White House plan to allow undocumented immigrants to become permanent residents in eight years and apply for citizenship was defended Sunday by Democrats after a leading Republican declared the proposal “dead on arrival.” A draft of the White House plan reflects principles President Barack Obama laid out in a Las Vegas speech and in his State of the Union address last week.
Obama Immigration Plan Would Set 8-Year Path To Residency
February 16, 2013 - Associated Press
The White House is circulating a draft immigration bill that would create a new visa for illegal immigrants living in the United States and allow them to become legal permanent residents within eight years, according to a report published online Saturday by USA Today. Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, described the draft bill as a "very moderate" proposal. While the path to citizenship was welcomed by Noorani, he said not enough attention was being paid to future immigration.
Could Naturalizing All Eligible Immigrants Push Our GDP to $52B?
February 15, 2013 - National Journal
A coalition of immigration-advocacy groups is calling on Congress to invest more in U.S. citizenship services, a movement that comes after a study commissioned by the National Partnership for New Americans found that the $680 naturalization fee has become a significant barrier to citizenship for legal permanent residents. More than 90 percent of LPRs want to naturalize, but a quarter of them cite cost as the main reason why they haven’t applied.
Conservatives at Austin summit push ‘Bibles, badges and business’ in immigration reform
February 13, 2013 - Austin American-Statesman
Leaders of faith, business and law enforcement groups Wednesday urged fellow conservatives in Austin to get behind their budding “Bibles, badges and business” coalition and push for broad immigration law reforms. “The game is changing, and it’s starting here in Texas,” Brad Bailey, head of the Texas Immigration Solution, told the Texas Summit on immigration.
Grover Norquist: GOP isn’t anti-immigration
February 13, 2013 - Dallas Morning News
Anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist said Wednesday that Texas can play a big role in immigration overhaul by pressing a solution that conservatives will trust and moderates can embrace. “Texas is a voice on making sure the center-right movement — conservatives, Republicans, Americans — are seen properly on this issue,” Norquist told a conference sponsored by a coalition of religious, business and law officer organizations.
Obama’s 2013 State of the Union and the Immigration Reform Moment
February 13, 2013 - Daily Beast
In his State of the Union address, the president backed away from policy prescriptions and used GOP rhetoric on immigration. He—and the lawmakers key to legislative success—know now’s the time to push a reform deal through. President Obama is at a moment of maximum political leverage. But for all the bipartisan framing of his State of the Union speech, the basic fact of divided government makes legislative progress difficult.
Silicon Valley and Immigrant Groups Find Common Cause
February 12, 2013 - New York Times
Silicon Valley executives, who have long pressed the government to provide more visas for foreign-born math and science brains, are joining forces with an array of immigration groups seeking comprehensive changes in the law. And as momentum builds in Washington for a broad revamping, the tech industry has more hope than ever that it will finally achieve its goal: the expanded access to visas that it says is critical to its own continued growth and that of the economy as a whole.
Texas business leader calls for bipartisan immigration reform
February 11, 2013 - Dallas Morning News
The president of the Texas Association of Businesses has added his voice to a chorus calling on the country’s Republicans to support comprehensive immigration reform. Bill Hammond teamed up Monday with a loose coalition of religious leaders, law enforcement and businesses named “Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform.” The group – an effort of the National Immigration Forum – calls on conservative lawmakers to work with their Democratic counterparts on a permanent reform of the immigration system.
Austin immigration meeting to give voice to moderate conservatives
February 11, 2013 - Austin American-Statesman
Brad Bailey is a co-founder of Texas Immigration Solution, a nonprofit conservative group formed in 2012 that is joining with the Texas Association of Business and National Immigration Forum to host Wednesday’s Texas Summit on immigration reform at First Baptist Church of Austin, 901 Trinity St. Groups represented at the conference will urge Texas’ congressional delegation to support broad immigration reform, Bailey said.
In immigration debate, evangelicals tie issue to Bible to push Republicans
February 08, 2013 - Tampa Bay Times
I was a stranger and you invited me in. Evangelicals nationwide are turning their Bibles to Matthew 25:35 and praying that Congress is listening to those words — part of a highly coordinated effort to spur progress on the long unresolved and contentious issue of immigration.
