Baldwin, Johnson Face Grassroots Pressure On Immigration Reform

Groups and clergy supporting immigrants’ rights are calling on Wisconsin’s U.S. senators to push for introduction of an immigration reform bill.

Immigration supporters held rallies outside several U.S. congressional offices today. The groups are disappointed that Congress did not meet the advocates’ request to introduce an immigration bill by yesterday.

Outside the Milwaukee office of Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, Catholic priest John Montag said a bill that protects families is needed, because the Obama administration continues to deport nonviolent people. Montag says that scares undocumented folks who live here.

“The people I have in my communities are good people, hardworking people, but they’re always under a shadow. It’s a shadow live they have to live.”

Senator Johnson’s office released a statement saying the immigration and border security system is obviously broken, and that Johnson is looking seriously at bipartisan efforts to address the issue. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, also being pressured by the immigrants’ rights groups, says she is confident the Senate will move comprehensive immigration reform forward next month.