PACs Try to Bring Spotlight Back to Immigration

Produced by City Room on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

So far in this year’s election campaign, immigration reform has taken a back seat to other issues, like the war in Iraq and the economy. But several political action committees, or PACs, on both sides of the immigration issue are trying to put it back in the spotlight.

A new Chicago-based group called ImmigrationPAC is providing financial backing for pro-immigration candidates in tight Congressional races. The PAC, whose supporters include Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, has endorsed three Democrats—one in New Mexico, the others in suburban Chicago.

One of its founders is a pastor named José Cruz. “Our strategy is two fold,â€