Clinton Slams GOP Over Immigration Reform

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton lowered the gauntlet for immigration reform during her first campaign appearance for 2016 on Tuesday in Nevada.

She strongly backed the recent executive actions of President Obama, promising to push for a comprehensive reform bill that would include a pathway to U.S. citizenship for the undocumented immigrants. She argued that Republicans simply do not pass muster on this issue.

Clinton has also spurned the suggestion by some Republicans of granting the immigrants legal residency, but not U.S. citizenship, to those undocumented immigrants now in the U.S.

Clinton said that when Republicans speak of legal status, that it is code for being second class status and we should not forget at any points who the debate is about; people who are working hard, who love the U.S., who pay taxes and who want only to build a future for their family.

The majority of the GOP field running for their Party’s nomination is opposed to immigration reform that has a pathway to citizenship, calling it amnesty for those who broke the law.

However, a handful of the Republicans have taken a moderate stance on this issue. Marco Rubio the Florida senator who had declared he is running for the nomination spearheaded a comprehensive bill on immigration in 2013 that was passed by the Senate.

The measure included a pathway to citizenship, but died ultimately when it reached the Republican controlled House. Rubio now is favoring an approach that is systematic.

Jeb Bush the former governor of Florida who has yet to officially declare but seems likely to do so, is open to a pathway to citizenship during the past, but has recently said the path is to legal status.

Both men, looking at the eroding standing of the GOP amongst Hispanic voters, have counseled fellow Republicans that they must move toward the middle when it comes to immigration reform if they have any hope of winning the presidential election.

However, Clinton seemed very determined Tuesday to deny them any advantage on the controversial issue.

The former senator, secretary of state and first lady also attempted to tamp down concern from the left about her commitment to the same cause.

She is firmly behind Obama’s action she said and would go further if she is able to.