McCain: ‘Time is right’ for immigration reform

Previous attempts to enact immigration reform may have failed, but Sen. John McCain believes this time will be different.

Saying that “the time is right” for Republicans and Democrats to come together on the controversial issue, Mr. McCain, Arizona Republican, said his party need only look at the most recent election to see why it’s crucial to tackle it now.

“Look at the last election. We are losing, dramatically, the Hispanic vote, which we think should be ours for a variety of reasons,” Mr. McCain said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “We’ve got to understand that. We can’t go on forever with 11 million people in this country living in the shadows.”

Mr. McCain is part of a bipartisan group of eight senators working on a comprehensive plan to address immigration. They hope to produce legislation within the next few months.

A longtime champion of comprehensive immigration reform, Mr. McCain said the group soon will unveil “the principles” that will form the basis for their eventual bill.

Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat and member of the bipartisan group, echoed Mr. McCain’s sentiments on Sunday, saying it’s time for the two parties to find common ground. He also said any legislation must include a pathway to citizenship.

“Latino voters expect it. Democrats want it. Republicans need it,” he said, also appearing on “This Week.”

As the senators continue their work, President Obama is set to launch his own immigration push this week. He’ll address the issue during a Las Vegas address on Tuesday and is expected to outline his new immigration policy during the Feb. 12 State of the Union address.

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