Immigration Reform News

WASHINGTON, D.C. When the hunger headaches get strong, Lenka Mendoza focuses on why she is fasting and dreams of what she would do if she won the right to legally live and work in the U.S.: She would return to her home country, Peru, to hug her cancer-stricken mom.

Obamacare, for instance: Whether the new law that seeks health insurance for every American is a prudent piece of policy or an albatross of government overreach is a matter of opinion.

Now that President Obama has outlined the crisis in economic mobility, he should begin by pressing his demand that Congress raise the minimum wage - and not by a little, but a lot.

Thus far in his political career, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, has shown a natural ability to offend then befriend political opponents and allies alike.

With the presidential campaign in the rearview and no midterm elections on the table, this year's political focus was mostly on the tedium of Washington, where President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans fought a lot but accomplished very little.

The Texas affiliate of the National Education Association and other advocacy groups are staging a rally and march to issue failing grades to U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz on key social and educational issues.

South Florida U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia is joining a 24-hour congressional fast relay in solidarity with a group of immigration activists on the National Mall.

A Fast 4 Families cross, ribbon and button hang around the neck of each faster for immigration Photo courtesy Fast for Families.

Congress is on pace to have its least productive year in modern history, earning a "do-nothing" label and adding another unwanted statistic to a body already facing chronically low approval ratings.

In a letter on Thursday, the lawmakers called on the president to act in the absence of immigration legislation that remains stalled in the Republican-led House.

A group of evangelicals in favor of passing immigration reform have a message for House Speaker John Boehner: "We're praying for you."

Gov. Jerry Brown's public approval rating has surged to a new high, and he is the overwhelming early favorite to win re-election next year, according to a new Field Poll.

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Foes of illegal immigration accused House Speaker John Boehner of signaling his willingness to consider an "amnesty" bill after his office hired a longtime policy aide who has advocated legalizing undocumented immigrants.

Washington Watch, formerly called 'Planet Washington,' covers politics and government.

Forty-six years ago, Cesar Chavez huddled in Delano with a group of farmworkers he had launched on an improbable mission: to stop the sale of grapes until California growers agreed to sign union contracts.

The subhead expanded on the assertion, but there wasn't much to add: "Congress is through legislating for the rest of 2013."

If you peruse the news on any given day, the farm bill/food stamp debate produces two general impressions: Republicans are heartless turkey thieves; Democrats are spendthrift welfare caterers.

A majority of 53 percent of adult respondents in the latest edition of America's Place in the World said the U.S. was less important and powerful in global affairs than in 2004, which was shortly after Washington invaded Iraq.

It's more than likely that overhauling immigration will not happen this year. Congress has only nine working days left in 2013.