Dem Rep: I Know 40-50 House Republicans Who Will Back Immigration Reform (VIDEO)

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One of the most outspoken supporters of immigration reform in the House said in an interview released this week that he’d have no trouble finding Republicans in the chamber who back the effort.

But Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) told The Washington Post that many House Republicans aren’t trumpeting their support because they fear backlash from conservatives.

“Some of them I’ve spoken to, and they say, ‘Love to do the activity with you, I want to be able to vote for it, I really don’t need to draw attention to myself at this point,’ but we can count on it,” he said.

Gutierrez recalled President Barack Obama challenging him in 2009 to find 40 or 50 Republicans who back comprehensive immigration reform, something the congressman suggested would not be a difficult.

“If they asked me today, go find those 40 or 50 Republicans, I’d tell them I found them,” Gutierrez said. “I know where they’re at. They’re here. They’re present.”

Gutierrez has taken a conciliatory approach toward his GOP colleagues throughout the immigration reform negotiations. In March, he applauded Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for their work on the reform push.

 

 

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