Pro-Immigrant Coalition Mobilizing in Texas

The Austin (Texas) Statesman (here) reports that a coalition of political, business and civil rights leaders vowed Thursday to play a significant role in shifting the immigration debate away from the Texas Capitol to the federal government. The coalition, including the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, Texas Association of Business, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations, urged Congress to pass immigration changes combining enhanced border security with more avenues for immigrants to enter the United States legally and earn citizenship. State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, said the group was troubled by what it called an onslaught of bills targeting illegal immigration filed in the Texas state Legislature.

KJ