A couple of weeks ago, Immigrants' List unveiled its Hall of Shame list -- the list of the 10 biggest obstructionists to real immigration reform. The list received a lot of notice as well as some sharp tongued responses from a few inductees, notably Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Congressman Brian Bilbray and Senator Charles Grassley.
Well, we thought it was time to shine a light on the good guys, those who are looking to fix our broken and dangerous immigration system.
We are proud to announce our slate of endorsed Senate candidates. All 13 have a strong record of supporting immigration reform, and all are ready to lead the country towards a real solution.
They are.
Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Sen. Bennet has endorsed such measures as a path to citizenship for the undocumented, a visa-worker program and was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act which gives undocumented residents who serve in the military or go to college a path to citizenship.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Ct. Attorney General and senate candidate Blumenthal has voiced his support for immigration reform, with an emphasis on protecting undocumented workers. He is running against Linda McMahon who is against a path to citizenship for the undocumented.
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
In 2006, when the now infamous Sensenbrenner bill was introduced, Sen. Boxer called the bill inhumane before calling Rep. Sensenbrenner inhumane. This year, Sen. Boxer sent a letter to President Obama calling for immigration reform.
Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Sen. Feingold has been a long-time advocate of comprehensive immigration reform. Most recently, he has blocked requests for a subcommittee hearing on changing the 14th Amendment to address birthright citizenship.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Like her New York senate colleague, Sen. Gillibrand's dedication to immigration reform is unquestionable. She supports a path to citizenship, an end to warrantless raids by the federal government, and backs the DREAM Act.
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. Inouye, the child of Japanese immigrants, has never strayed from the immigration reform path. He voted for both the 2006 and 2007 immigration reform bills, and supported a guest worker program, while voting against English as an official language legislation.
Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT)
Besides being a long-time supporter of comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act, Senate Judiciary Chair Leahy was honored by the American Immigration Lawyers Association this year for his bill to protect refugee and asylum seekers in the U.S.
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AK)
Sen. Lincoln has acknowledged that the policy of wholesale deportation of undocumented residents would have a devastating fiscal impact to our federal government and our economy. That's why she endorses a path to citizenship that includes a fine, background check and application for a work visa.
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
A staunch supporter of immigration reform, she has also recently come out as a loud opponent of calls to change the 14th Amendment to address birthright citizenship.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Murray was an ardent supporter of the Kennedy-McCain and Kennedy-Kyl immigration reform efforts, and has voted against making English an official language and denying funds for "sanctuary cities."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
Senate Majority Leader Reid has been an essential ally of the immigration-reform movement. Besides being the lead sponsor of the 2007 immigration reform bill, at a rally earlier this year he said that the time for immigration reform is now.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
A constant in the fight to fix our immigration system, Sen. Schumer put a big foot forward by providing the framework for a future reform bill, which includes a path to citizenship and an employee verification program, in an op-ed in The Washington Post.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-WA)
Sen. Wyden has been a strong presence for immigration reform for over a decade, including his support for a path to citizenship and a guest worker program as part of the Kennedy-Kyl bill in 2007.