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Groups Join Forces on Immigration

By Eunice Moscoso | Thursday, January 18, 2007, 02:17 PM

Groups lobbying for changes in the nation’s immigration laws, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, have dubbed themselves the “Alliance for Immigration Reform 2007.”

The organizations, which announced their new name Thursday in a conference call with reporters, include the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights group; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Service Employees International Union; the National Immigration Forum; and the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank based in New York.

“This is the year to get this done,” said Tamar Jacoby, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. “Everybody, no matter who they are, is sick of the illegality and the porous borders. Businesses are tired of lying to the government and having to break the law just to get the work done. Latinos want to see their friends and family able to work with dignity. And soccer moms and dads want to see Congress solve something.”

Bruce Josten, executive vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said he expected President Bush to address immigration in his State of the Union speech Tuesday.

“I have absolutley no doubt that he will raise this issue and he will press and stay on the message he has been on since a candidate for this office for a comprehensive solution to immigration,” Josten said.

White House spokesman Tony Snow confirmed the topic.

The speech “will address major issues, including the war on terror, energy, health care, immigration, and education,” he told reporters Thursday.

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