Immigration Reform 2013: Vice President Biden To Promote Overhaul At Naturalization Ceremony On Thursday

Vice President Joe Biden will continue his recent promotional tour for immigration reform on Thursday during a visit to a naturalization ceremony on Thursday in Atlanta, where he will address an audience of new American citizens at the King center. The White House says the event "highlights the Administration's celebration of citizenship and across-the-board commitment to passing commonsense immigration reform that includes a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the U.S. today."

According to Politico, Biden has called upon proponents of immigration reform to bear down on Republican members of the House who oppose a single-bill comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration system. In a conference call with Catholic clergymen and other faith leaders organized by the Catholic social justice agency Network this week, the vice president advised them to "work the districts so these members understand how all their constituents feel, not just the loudest ones." He added, "This kind of reminds me of the gun control kind of fights we had, and gun safety. You know, the people who don't want anything changed to have a more rational position, they're the ones who show up in large numbers. The ones who strongly support us, they don't show up. You guys have to show up."

Biden also asked the faith leaders on the call to show support for Republicans who have expressed support for reform with a path to citizenship - an idea which continues to be a sticking point for many rank-and-file House Republicans. "Thank the Representatives when you call who are already in favor of reform, especially the 32 Republicans who have expressed for a path to citizenship," he said. "Give them a little bit of love and appeal to their better angels, the better angels of those who are still on the fence to take a politically courageous decision."

The Associated Press reports that President Barack Obama is scheduled to join Biden on Wednesday in a meeting with faith leaders including megachurch pastor Joel Hunter, National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson and Jim Wallis of the social justice group Sojourners, during which they will discuss how to persuade House Republicans to act on the issue. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House minority whip and third-ranking GOP member in the lower chamber, said last week that not enough time exists on the Congressional calendar to pass legislation in 2013. On Tuesday, another California House Republican, Jeff Denham, dismissed the idea, saying that it "isn't dead."

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