NEW YORK, -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will propose creating a sub-Cabinet office to help address problems for immigrants living in America.
CNN reports Clinton will promise Wednesday
to create a new federal Office of Immigration Affairs to help
immigrants settle into daily life in America. She said the office would
also seek to create solutions for immigrants who entered the country
illegally.
An aide described the new office to CNN as "a pro-active
effort to coordinate policies and programs both across federal agencies
and with state and local governments," the aide said, adding that it
would work to "ensure that immigrants, refugees and their children are
able to become fully integrated members of their communities and
country."
The announcement comes in response to criticism from her
opponent, Vermont Sen. Sanders, whose campaign organized a media
conference call that featured several top Latinos supporters who blasted
Clinton's failure to endorse a 2008 proposal by then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, to grant drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.
Proponents of the plan in New York and elsewhere say
granting the licenses cuts down on the number of uninsured drivers and
gives illegal immigrants a tool to help them find work here. Clinton
opposed the idea and opposition among Republicans in the state
legislature led to its defeat.
Clinton shot back at Sanders, pointing to his vote in 2007 against comprehensive immigration reform when it was proposed by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, and had the backing of President George W. Bush. Sanders said the compromise bill did not go far enough to protect migrant workers.
Clinton also announced the endorsement of the New York State Immigrant Action Fund, a network of immigration activists.
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