On Thursday, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) hosted the Latino State of the Union with the main topic being immigration reform.
“We are still in the midst of the immigration reform debate, and we cannot give up,” said Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was the keynote speaker for the event.
Mayorkas informed the audience that the Obama administration continues its commitment towards immigration reform and ensuring that legislation is passed this year. Like Mayorkas, other panelists followed the same optimistic tone and reassurance that immigration reform should happen this year.
“I think that there is still a chance in 2014 but that chance really depends on our continuing to ensure that everyone in Congress understands how important this is,” said MALDEF’s president and general council Thomas Saenz, who was also on the panel.
Not all the panelists were convinced that immigration reform legislation will be passed this year, though. José Calderón, president of the Hispanic Federation, showed his lack of optimism, stating “I don’t think that immigration reform will happen this year.”
Overall, there was agreement in the room that though immigration reform has not been passed yet, there have been many valuable “wins” from both a local and state level that has created momentum and helped the overall push nationally.
Recent Comments