This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Immigration Reform Movement is Bigger and Stronger than Ever

Fair Immigration Reform Movement (Firm) is a coalition of immigrant rights groups spread across 30 states.  Grass roots immigration reform groups are getting better organized, becoming more strategic, as well as more vocal and informed.  The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Mi Familia Vota are spending more than 1 million dollars on television and radio immigration reform campaigns.  Congressional office visits are being organized; there are campaigns to register more people to vote, which can affect the diverse makeup of constituencies voting in the 2014 elections.  The Dream Action Coalition is a youth-led organization sponsoring local events in states with Representatives in districts with strong Latino presence. America’s Voice is a pro-immigration reform group polling Latino Decisions to release survey results showing several competitive congressional races where the Latino vote could swing the elections, and the National Council of La Raza continues to encourage undocumented immigrants to share their stories.

 

Pro-Immigration Reform advocates are targeting 11 House Republicans who are considered to be key in passing immigration reform. 

Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

John Boehner (OH), Speaker of the House

Eric Cantor (VA), Majority Leader

Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kevin McCarthy (CA), Majority Whip

Peter Roskam (IL), Chief Deputy Whip

Darrell Issa (CA), House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman

Greg Walden (OR), National Republic Congressional Committee Chairman

Cahthy McMorris Rodgers (WA), House Republican Conference Chairwoman

Buck McKeon (CA), House Armed Services Committee Chairman

Mike Coffman (CA)

Dan Webster (FL)

Michael Grimm (NY)

 

How good is your math?  Comprehensive Immigration Reform needs 218 votes to pass in the US House of Representatives.  There are currently 201 Democratic Representatives in the House.  If every Democrat voted for immigration reform, then only about 20 addition Republican votes would be needed to pass.  However, House Speaker John Boehner has already stated that he will not bring the bill to the floor for a vote, unless there is a majority of Republicans in favor of the bill. 

 

The pressure is on.  If the US House of Representatives appears to have a majority of votes to pass immigration reform, without a majority of Republican votes, then the Will of the People becomes even more critical. 

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?