Published Wednesday December 16, 2009
Positions firm on immigration
By Cindy Gonzalez
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

People on both sides of the immigration debate are bracing for another fierce round of lobbying as a new proposal emerged Tuesday on Capitol Hill to provide illegal immigrants a way to gain legal status.

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-Ill., introduced the most recent plan aimed at overhauling the nation's immigration laws, creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

He hopes to break the two-year impasse on settling the status of an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

Local immigrant advocates say President Barack Obama could boost their cause this time around, but opponents in both Nebraska and Iowa say they are preparing to squelch any movement toward what they call “amnestyâ€