Congressman Raul Grijalva did not hold back in assessing the Republican National Committee’s recent vote to oppose a path to citizenship as part of comprehensive immigration reform, calling the proposal “politically naive and stupid when—and I hate to admit that—the Republican Party does have some ability to inroad to the Latino community. But when you do this mean-spirited and marginalize that community, you effectively close the door on the ability to communicate.”
Grijalva also talked about why he believes the security component of the Gang of Eight’s Senate bill was overkill, explained his opposition to the Rosemont Mine, called for congressional approval of any military action against Syria, criticized the NSA’s surveillance programs and condemned the recent anti-gay fliers targeting Sunnyside School Board member Daniel Hernandez.
During the AZ Illustrated Politics panel discussion, Republican strategist Jonathan Paton, Pima County Democratic Party chairman Jeff Rogers and Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Lea Marquez-Peterson continued the conversation of immigration reform, unpacking this week’s town hall with Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake; examined the recent attack ads targeting Flake’s refusal to support shutting down the government over the defunding of the Affordable Care Act; wondered whether the referendum effort to block the Arizona Legislature’s overhaul of election laws would make the ballot; and previewed this year’s City Council elections.
This article appears in Aug 29 – Sep 4, 2013.
I emigrated from England in 1955..took a lot of
paperwork tocome to this country. Seems like We
in the last 40 years, at least, We have problems of
incoming illegals from the South. It is time for
change. The methods We are using are not working.
Time for US to change Our ways and figure a way
to get 11,000,000 legalized and make them taxpayers
like the rest of Us.
Yay, Grijalva!
We legalize the 11,000,000 and then what? How do we prevent 11,000,000 more from entering the US and making them citizens? The problem, people, isn’t the US, it’s MEXICO. They need to take care of their own, find them jobs and rise out of poverty.
Raul was a blowhard on the Tucson city council and he is still a blowhard. The U.S. does not need to change the immigration laws we need to enforce the laws we have. I am all for immigrants joining our great country, just do it legally. Giving 11 million illegals citizenship when they came here illegally is the wrong message to send to the world, it was wrong when Reagan did it and it is still wrong today for Obama to do it. Find and deport the 11 million here and tighten the borders so no more cross illegally.
The Republicans only support white skinned American, if you anything else, a Black, Latino, or any other minority do NOT expect Republicans to support any bills to help you. The Republicans continue to be back 40/50 years ago. And many of the Republican controlled states are passing bills to take back there. Racism is very loud and clear, but Republicans will dismiss that notion. When they attack Black for not having jobs, I ask any Republican law maker to list all the jobs available and the corporation or business. They continual excuse for trashing food stamps, health care, etc, is that people are not out getting jobs. And BTW the jobs available are not supporting the survival of a family.
There is nothing wrong with this nation’s immigration laws. The main problem is that a particular group of people feel they are exempt for this nations laws. Politicians that constantly pander to these criminals are guilty of failing to uphold their oaths of office to enforce the laws of this nation and defend the Constitution of these United states and should be removed from office. Grijalva cares nothing for the citizens of this nation or his congressional District unless of course you are Hispanic. He is a racist and a failure to his non Hispanic constituents.
Congressman Raul Grijalva can call it what he want’s to, but a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens seems naive and stupid to me.