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Immigration Hardliners Ready to Go on Offense in Congress

By Elizabeth Llorente

Published November 10, 2010

Groups that favor a hard line on immigration are savoring the shift in the House of Representatives from Democrat to Republican.

Even more so, they say they feel a growing momentum because two Republicans – Reps. Lamar Smith of Texas and Steve King of Iowa – well known for their preference for tough immigration enforcement, will be in key leadership positions in Congress.

Smith is expected to become the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and King is set to be the next chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration.

"We’ve played mostly defense,â€