Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL): We Have Votes to Pass Immigration Reform

On Tuesday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), one of the drafters of the immigration bill in the House, said supporters of comprehensive immigration reform have found enough Republicans needed to pass the legislation. 

“We found the 50 Republicans needed to pass immigration reform, now we need to get it done,” Gutierrez said. 

He made his comments at an immigration town hall at the National Council of La Raza’s annual convention in New Orleans. 

Gutierrez was not clear, though, on what bill those 50 Republicans he claimed he had would support. Conservatives have expressed concerns that the House would pass an immigration bill that would morph into the Senate’s unpopular immigration bill once it goes to conference. 

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), one of the drafters of the Senate bill, has conceded the bill was losing popular support, while Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), another Gang of Eight drafter, has not said a word about the bill since its passage nearly a month ago.