Florida’s GOP caucus hammer out last minute plan for immigration reform
By Marianela Toledo | Florida Watchdog
MIAMI — Time is running out for immigration reform this year, but some Florida Republicans still hold out hope.
U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., is working on a measure that he hopes will make lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle happy.
STILL HOPES: U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz Balart says there is still a chance for immigration reform to pass in the House.
“Every day, Mario Díaz Balart — our Republican leader — works in private and public with members from our caucus,” said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-Florida. “He’s got it almost ready. Any time soon it will spark a hot debate in the House floor. I think there are hopes that we can pass the project.”
The GOP needs to get behind immigration reform before the August recess, especially if it wants to save face with the Latino voter.
Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has warned “if Congress does not take up immigration reform Obama will,” according to Breitbart report.
The U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform a year ago, but the measure has been held up in the House of Representatives.
“When we see those children entering into United States illegally we can see that the (immigration) system as it is today does not work,” Díaz Balart said.
Díaz Balart was referring to the recent wave of undocumented children coming into the United States without families.
“The United States does not control who comes and who goes. In much part, we don’t know who comes and who goes. That’s unacceptable,” he added.
“We are very concerned about the humanitarian chaos being created on the border where there are thousands and thousands of young, undocumented children without family supervision who are waiting for immigration reform pass,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart spoke last week at a forum focusing on the economic impact of immigration reform.
The event was organized by FWD.US, a group started by leaders in the tech community to promote policies including immigration and education reforms.
VIDEO IN SPANISH:
Contact Marianela Toledo at Marianela.Toledo@FloridaWatchdog.org or on Twitter @mtoledoreporter.
