Texas Business Leaders and Political Leaders Unite around Immigration Debate

The historically conservative Texas Association of Business is joining forces with a democratic Texas state lawmaker and several liberal political groups in an effort to stop current immigration legislation in Texas

State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, announced the formation of a group of business and political leaders on Tuesday, February 13, which would include the TAB, Texas Association of Mexican-American Chambers of Commerce, Texas Employers for Immigration Reform, League of United Latin American Citizens, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Mexican American Legislative Caucus and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The group is calling for Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and House Speaker Tom Craddick to defeat all immigrant-related bills before the Legislature this session. Instead, the group wants to shift the immigration debate to Washington, where, it says, any significant progress toward comprehensive immigration reform must originate.

It's about time that people woke up and recognized that state and local legislation is not going to address the nation's immigration issues.