This Week in Immigration Reform – Week Ending April 25

Week Ending April 25, 2014

This week in immigration reform: the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of provisions to Arizona’s SB 1070 that would have made harboring or transporting undocumented immigrants illegal; House Reps. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) expressed their support for immigration reform; and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) sent a letter to Speaker Boehner reminding him that immigration reform legislation is in the nation’s and the GOP’s best interest.

–U.S. Supreme Court denied review of harmful provisions to Arizona’s anti-immigrant law SB 1070. On Monday April 21, the Supreme Court denied review to the provision in SB 1070 that would make harboring and transporting undocumented immigrants illegal. Lead Plaintiff, and NCLR Affiliate, Valle del Sol, along with other organizations n in Arizona worked tirelessly to push back against legislation that would have subjected many, including the Latino community, to racial profiling and discrimination. The provision had been previously blocked by the District Court in Phoenix back in 2012 and the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit also upheld the injunction.

–GOP House Reps. Aaron Schock and Adam Kinzinger back legal status for undocumented people.  On Tuesday April 22, Reps. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) endorsed some form of legal status for undocumented immigrants in Chicago. While Rep. Schock had already mentioned his support for reform before, on a video testimonial aired at the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition event on Tuesday, he reaffirmed his support for reform including a path to citizenship. Kinzinger, in his video testimonial, stated his support for granting undocumented immigrants legal status. The Illinois Business Immigration Coalition event was a gathering meant to encourage House Republicans to act on reform this year and featured the likes of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, two former governors, and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Renner.

–House Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) sent a letter to Speaker Boehner urging him to allow a vote on immigration reform. Rep. King, who has been vocal in the past about immigration reform, sent a letter on April 23 to Speaker Boehner to act on the principles the GOP set out earlier this year regarding immigration. Rep. King states that immigration reform with a path to citizenship and strong border security is not only in the country’s best interest but also in the GOP’s best interest.

NCLR and Affiliates in Action.

• Colorado: On Thursday April 24, the NCLARF hosted a roundtable discussion where the Denver Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Regional Representative for the Department of Labor Dusti Gurule addressed the role of immigration reform in the business community. The speakers addressed the vital role immigrant workers play in the farming, agriculture, tourist, and high tech industries.

• Florida: NCLR Affiliates continue to make calls and advocate for the passage of the in-state tuition bill, SB 1400.  The bill, which has already passed in the state House of Representatives, would allow graduates from Florida high schools to pay the in-state tuition rate at public universities, regardless of their immigration status.