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Is the bill dead on arrival. Let us know your thought in the comments below. 

### via David Nakamura | Wash Po

House Democrats released their own comprehensive immigration proposal Wednesday, hoping to keep pressure on Republicans to move forward on stalled plans to overhaul the nation's border control laws.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and several other Democrats announced the plans at a news conference on Capitol Hill on a day when nearly all the focus was on the budget fight and government shutdown. The lawmakers emphasized that immigration remains an imperative issue and hoped that the House's GOP leadership would put legislation forward for a vote before the end of the year.

READ MORE AT WASHINGTON POST

flickr: seiu international

One word and one letter: Plan B

### via USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - The road to overhauling the nation's immigration laws became even more difficult Friday when two Republicans abandoned a bipartisan group that had been working to craft a solution in the House of Representatives.

Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, and Rep. Sam Jonhson, R-Texas, put the blame for their decision to leave the House working group on President Obama.

READ MORE VIA USA TODAY

(flickr: Gage Skidmore)

What gives, Steve King? Why do you think Steve King is still so staunchly anti-immigrant when his district clearly feels differenlty? Comment below! 

### via Politico

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) has been one of Capitol Hill’s loudest opponents of immigration reform – particularly toward a way to legalize the 11 million immigrants living illegally in the United States.

But it turns out that voters in King’s northwest Iowa district hold pretty friendly views on legalization and ultimately citizenship for undocumented immigrants, a new poll finds.

A poll being released later Wednesday by the American Action Network shows that 68 percent of voters in Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District supports an “earned pathway to legal status,” while 65 percent support an “earned pathway to citizenship.”

READ MORE AT POLITICO

A very important list put together by the AFL-CIO. 

(flickr: Seattle Municipal Archives)

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[UPDATE 03/20/13] on Hector Nolasco: Your calls are working! Hector is out of detention on bond and back with his family. But he's still fighting to close his case. Here's a way to help. --> www.gofundme.com/HelpHector

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Hector Nolasco is a day laborer whose employer falsely accused him of assault when he stood up for his labor rights. Hector is now in Los Angeles County Sheriff's custody and has been issued an ICE hold. 

President Obama met with various religious leaders who urged him to pass immigration reform as soon as possible. After the hour-long meeting, some of the religious leaders were optimistic that a comprehensive immigration reform will be in tact this year.

Jordan Fabian, from ABC-Univision reports that Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Confernece had said,

“I walked out of that meeting with a greater sense of optimism, with the strong  chance of passing comprehensive  immigration reform this year."

Fourteen religious leaders attended this meeting, amongst those where leaders who represented Catholic, Evangelical, Protestant and Mormon churches as well as religions such as Judaism, Hinduism and Islam.

As bipartisan groups continue to build a immigration reform legislation, it is evident that religious leaders have played an essential role in organizing support for immigration reform. Clergy members agreed that President Obama is clearly committed to make an effort and work with Republicans to pass an immigration legislation with a pathway to citizenship.

Jim Wallis, Head of the Christian Group Sojourners said, "There is more than politics involved here, there are moral issues involved here and that is what the faith community is lifting up. He thanked us for that " 

 Dear Senator Schumer, YES lets fight for immigrants. But Drop the "I" Word!

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img via (flickr:Gage Skidmore)

A huge issue in the debate about immigration reform is whether or not 11 million undocumented immigrants who already live in the U.S should be given the opportunity to be given a pathway to citizenship. 

Talking Points Memo reports that leading GOP figure in the House , Rep. Raúl Labrador said,

'The people that came here illegally knowingly --- I don't think they should have a path to citizenship,' he said on NPR, 'If you knowingly violated our law, you violated our sovereignty, I think we should normalize your status but we should not give you a pathway to citizenship.'

TPM adds

Under Labrador’s proposal, which reflects a middle ground sought by Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, undocumented immigrants would receive a visa that allows them to live, work and travel in and out of the United States, but without the right to vote or become a green card holder or citizen.

“Some people are calling it a blue card or a red card,” said the conservative Latino congressman.

Although, there are GOP House members that do support immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship such members are Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), there doesn't seem to be enough pro-citizenship members to get a bill through the House. 

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[Update 02/02/13] ICYMI Edi Arma has been released! This is what mobilization looks like!