U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., is among 87 co-sponsors of new legislation supported by immigration-reform advocates.
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity was introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday by Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-Ill.
Under the proposal, undocumented immigrants could become legal by paying a fine and learning English — if they don't speak the language already — as well as passing background checks and meeting other requirements. They would then be eligible for a six-year visa and, eventually, a green card.
"Our current system is clearly broken, and it is impacting our economy, our security and millions of families," Luján said in an e-mail. "Comprehensive reform will help keep our country safe while recognizing both the realities of our broken system and the values our nation has held dear for generations."
The bill has a long way to go before it would end up on President Barack Obama's desk, but bill supporters are optimistic.
Martine Apodaca, communications director for the Reform Immigration for America campaign in Washington, one of the groups pressuring Congress to pass the latest reform proposal, said the effort has people from all walks of life behind it, including labor leaders, people of faith, business leaders and civil-rights advocates.
"The coalition is bigger, the political context is different, we have a different president, different political leaders," Apodaca said.
Both of New Mexico's senators, Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, have expressed support for the concept of reform that would enhance border security and protect families.
María Nájera, a spokeswoman for Bingaman, acknowledged the senior senator's support for immigration reform, but couldn't say whether he would support this bill — if it makes it to the Senate — because he hasn't seen a final draft. Any comprehensive immigration reform that Bingaman would support needs to include a guest-worker program that would help meet U.S. labor demands but not put the local labor force in jeopardy, Nájera said.
"There needs to be a way to reconcile the millions of undocumented immigrants that are here in the country ... to help them gain legal status some way — for people who've been here, who've been law-abiding citizens and raised children," Nájera said.
An attempt to contact a spokesperson for Udall on Tuesday was unsuccessful.
Faith groups in Albuquerque gathered Tuesday night to pray and participate in a posada, a tradition of re-enacting Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. The posada was part of a "Shine a Light from Coast to Coast" event organized by faith groups across the country who support efforts to help immigrants.
María Cristina López, who chairs the city of Santa Fe's Immigration Committee, said if such a bill is signed by Obama next year, the fear that many immigrants live with would dissipate. The city's Immigration Committee started in 1999 after immigrants complained about unfair treatment and services.
"It's an economic and social benefit," López said. "It would benefit everyone, not just immigrants," especially because immigrant students would be able to attend college, she added.
Mayor David Coss said a reform of immigration laws would "mean a much more successful and peaceful city."
"Our kids would do better in school, our health care system would be better," said Coss, who at the 2008 U.S. Conference of Mayors introduced a resolution — which passed unanimously — stating that the U.S. Conference of Mayors would support immigration reform.
"We need a path to citizenship for those who want it. We need immigration reform that helps immigrant families to have the same right to education, same rights on the job," Coss said. "They are (also) an economic benefit. They have jobs, they work hard, they educate their kids, they go shopping."