Faith-based Hispanics push immigration reform

By at 15 March, 2010, 2:26 pm

Esperanza, a Hispanic faith-based network, plans to launch a grassroots campaign in South Florida and other parts of the country on Tuesday to push for comprehensive immigration reform this year. It starts with an announcement in the Capitol. Mario Diaz-Balart Participants will include Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Miami, who is running this year in a district that includes Broward County. Also on hand will be Jose Dugand, pastor of a 2,500-member church called Ekklesia Global in Miami. Backers include Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; and Senator Robert Menendez, a Cuban-American Democrat from New Jersey. Esperanza and other Hispanic groups are eager to enact

a bill that would give millions of unauthorized immigrants a path to legal status and citizenship. Such a bill remains relatively high on President Obama’s agenda, but signs from the White House and Congress indicate that it won’t come to pass this year. Obama has focused instead on health-care reform and financial regulation. Immigration reform may have to wait for 2011, a non-election year. Esperanza’s network is spread across 42 states and 12,000 Hispanic churches and community non-profit groups. The campaign will enlist individuals and organizations to pressure elected officials to support reform.

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Faith-based Hispanics push immigration reform

Categories : Florida | Miami




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