Presidential Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton called for comprehensive immigration reform Tuesday at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, saying it’s necessary to keep families from pulling apart.
“We can’t wait any longer for a path to full and equal citizenship,” Clinton said, surrounded by six people at the table before an audience of 33. Her roundtable discussion had six young people with family members who have faced struggles in the immigration system.
“It is at heart a family issue,” Clinton said.
This is the former secretary of state and first lady’s first visit to Nevada since she announced her candidacy on April 12, and is part of a tour of early voting states. Her tour has included stops in Iowa and New Hampshire; she plans to visit South Carolina after Nevada.
Her Las Vegas appearance is being broadcast live by C-SPAN.
Clinton’s approach at the event is in keep with efforts to soften her image and place her in a low-key, intimate setting with a question-and-answer format, instead of a large speeches.
Rancho’s student body is about 70 percent Hispanic, and Clinton’s round-table discussion will include young people who are eligible for the Dream Act. About 30 percent of Nevada’s population is Hispanic.
In the Silver State and across the nation, immigration reform is a growing issue, with an estimated 11 million undocumented Hispanics in the United States.
Advocates for immigration reform have pressed for giving a legal status to undocumented residents, while conservative Republicans have argued instead for incremental changes and increased border security.
Clinton rose to fame when her husband, Bill Clinton, ran for and won the presidency in 1992.
After eight years as the nation’s first lady, Clinton became s a U.S. senator representing New York. Her bid for the Democratic nomination in 2008 failed to Barack Obama. Clinton became secretary of state in 2009, holding the position until 2013.
It’s not the first time for a Las Vegas high school to be a backdrop for a high-profile immigration announcement.
President Barack Obama visited Del Sol High School on Nov. 21 to tout his efforts at immigration reform, and he signed documents for his executive orders aboard Air Force One while at McCarran International Airport. Those orders help undocumented immigrants with children born in the United States.
In January 2013, Obama was at Del Sol High School to announce he is pursuing comprehensive immigration reform.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1
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