Immigration Activists Won't Let Congress Rest During August Recess
Congress heads home this week for their August recess. But activists both for and against immigration reform say they will not let representatives rest.
The immigrant rights group Mi Familia Vota is asking volunteers in Las Vegas to come out this weekend and canvas in Republican Congressman Joe Heck's District. Heck has said he supports a pathway to citizenship, but that’s not enough. Leo Murrieta is the Nevada State Director of Mi Familia Vota. He says Heck needs to be more vocal about getting legislation passed in the House.
"Immigration reform is going to be front page news during the August recess, and we're going to make sure it is, because we can't afford to let immigration reform fall through the cracks," Murrieta said.
Murrieta also oversees the group's activities in several other states, including California. He says their Arizona director is in Washington, D.C. right now coordinating a national effort to pass immigration reform.
On the other side of the debate are groups such as Numbers USA based in Virginia. Roy Beck is the group's President and says his members also have a message for Congress members during their recess:
"Block anything on immigration from coming to the floor and focus on those things that will help the economy and get Americans back to work," Beck said.
In Arizona, Senator John McCain will hold town halls across the state to sway House members who have not embraced comprehensive reform. McCain is part of the Gang of Eight that drafted the Senate Immigration bill that passed last June.
