GOP members, Chicago archbishop to call for immigration reform

Posted on March 7, 2015

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis will be among those joining the Chicago archbishop Monday. (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Republicans will join the archbishop of Chicago on Monday for a news conference calling for an immigration solution this year.

Headlined by Gov. Bruce Rauner and U.S. Sen. Mark S. Kirk (R-Ill.), the group seeks a “path to citizenship” for illegal immigrants. Two Illinois Republican congressmen are not exactly in support.

“I think the consensus among the majority (in Congress) is, let’s do a piece-by-piece process: secure the borders, ag workers (etc.),” says U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville). “Getting to the point of citizenship is probably beyond the scope of the governing majorities in the legislative branch right now.

“I don’t think it would even get to the floor,” Shimkus says.

Neither Shimkus nor U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) are among the Republicans on the bill for the Monday event.

“Our concern is: even common-sense changes to our immigration system – the temporary ag worker program and the STEM visa program that we can get tremendous bipartisan agreement on; they get pushed to the wayside when the president comes out with an unconstitutional executive action,” Davis said.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…