The AFL-CIO launched a series of television ads on Wednesday in a push for comprehensive immigration reform.
The AFL-CIO, which is the largest federation of unions in the U.S., released the ads in districts with large Latino populations to urge residents to contact their representatives in the House and ask them to support immigration reform. In addition to the ads, the organization will also hold rallies and press events to mobilize citizens in the districts, The Huffington Post reports.
Immigration reform advocates hope that their actions can help Republicans realize that the best way to attract Latino voters is by supporting immigration legislation. House Republicans have been mostly opposed to supporting the House bill that resembles the bill passed in the Senate in June. Although GOP leaders say they want to address immigration reform before the end of the year, time is quickly running out. Bills such as the Kids Act, which would give legal status to undocumented young people, has not yet materialized.
The AFL-CIO ads will air in Atlanta, Ga.; Bakersfield, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; and the Washington, D.C. metro area. The specific GOP members targeted in the efforts are Reps. Gary Miller (R-Calif.), Joe Heck (R-Nev.), Buck McKeon (R-Calif), Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Scott Tipton (R-Colo.), Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), and Daniel Webster (R.-Fla.). Targeted Reps. David Valadao (R.-Calif.) and Jeff Denham (R.-Calif.) have already signed on to the Democratic-led immigration reform bill.
The ads feature quotes from GOP members speaking against immigration reform, and ask Latinos to contact their representatives.
"Republicans compare immigrants to animals, call Dreamers 'drug mules,' one Republican even said he'd 'do anything short of shooting' the undocumented," a voiceover says. "Now they're blocking a pathway to citizenship, keeping millions in the shadows."
"Call Congress," the ad continues. "Tell your representative if Republicans refuse to pass comprehensive immigration reform, we'll know why."
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a statement Wednesday that the organization will continue to push for immigration reform until it passes.
"The time for acting on immigration reform is now, and the labor movement has decided to throw down in a big way to make it happen," he said. "Every day, over 1,000 people are deported, while House Republicans refuse to act on immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship and workers' rights. We won't stop until the deportation crisis ends and aspiring Americans have the roadmap to citizenship they deserve."
Watch one of the ads below:
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