Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Sofia Sanchez
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday that a controversial immigration bill signed into law last week by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer was an attempt by that state and its residents to tell Congress that they are tired of waiting for federal action.

With the public wondering how Democrats are going to balance pleasing their Hispanic base, which desires federal immigration reform, with courting voters who support the Arizona bill this upcoming election season, Hoyer acknowledged that doing nothing is not an option for his party.

“We need to keep the border secure, we cannot have porous borders...we can’t have people coming into the United States of America when they are not authorized to do so,” said Hoyer.

The Leader said he would prefer a similar bill to the one that was debated in the Senate in 2007.

“In the last administration, President Bush clearly indicated he thought some sort of comprehensive immigration reform was necessary,” said Hoyer.” I shared that view then and I share it today.”