In Arizona, more than a dozen faith, labor and pro-immigrant groups are launching a state-wide grassroots push for immigration reform. The push coincides with the period when Senators and Representatives are home from Washington, D.C. on a recess.
These groups want an immigration reform package that keeps families together and includes a pathway to citizenship. They announced a two-week effort promote this message in front of Sen. John McCain’s Phoenix office on Monday, and are scheduled to attend his town hall meeting later in the day.
McCain is among the so-called “Gang of Eight” who are drafting a Senate immigration bill.
Petra Falcon, who leads Promise Arizona in Action, said the Arizona efforts are coordinated with a nationwide grassroots push. She said over the next two weeks activists across the country will be phone-banking, canvassing and contacting lawmakers.
“We expect a bill right after Easter recess, so we want to make sure that our voices are, quite frankly, being channeled,” Falcon said.
Falcon is fasting to draw attention to the urgency of the issue.
Activists who oppose amnesty for unauthorized immigrants are also expected to be pushing their own message during this period.
