A mayor on the front lines of immigration reform says the tide is turning on finally getting legislation passed.
“We’re at a unique time in our nation’s history where good public policy, passage of the DREAM Act, and comprehensive immigration reform and good politics seem to be coming together at the right time,” Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said on Jansing & Co. Thursday.
Mayor Stanton says immigration reform must include a path to citizenship, but “not an easy path. You’ve got to go to the back of the line and of course pay a fine…We know that border security has to be an element of it as well. And the DREAM Act has to be a part of it,” Stanton said.
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows a majority of Americans say illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States and apply for citizenship, another 30% say illegal immigrants should be required to leave the country.
“I’m optimistic that the right thing is going to occur. And certainly if it does occur, it’s going to help us here in Arizona, in my city of Phoenix, a great deal,” Mayor Stanton told msnbc’s Chris Jansing.
At the same time, President Obama’s political PAC, Organizing for Action, has sent out a new email asking undocumented workers to share their personal stories with the public. It’s the latest strategic move in its campaign to build public support for immigration reform.
Bryan Weakland