Hispanic Church Leader Sits Down With President

WASHINGTON -- America's largest Hispanic Christian Organization, The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), The Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals, commended and applauded President Obama for framing the "moral imperative" behind comprehensive immigration reform.

In a historic week for Immigration Reform in America, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez met with President Obama and urged the him to address the moral and spiritual dimension supporting immigration reform. Rodriguez joined a handful of other leaders representing the largest Hispanic organizations in the nation including National Council of La Raza, League of United Latin American Citizens and others in affirming the President's commitment while simultaneously reiterating the urgency of immediate action.

The meeting between the President and organizational leaders began a week that included gatherings with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and finalizing with the President's speech at American University.

Rodriguez believes these developments together may serve as a tipping point on the matter. "This week may very well stand as the week that changed the narrative of the immigration reform debate. It began with our meeting on Monday with the President where we affirmed his leadership and made it clear that the Evangelical community stands with him on this critical issue. President Obama and Evangelicals, yes, even Conservative Evangelicals stand as allies as it pertains to immigration reform that secures our borders, our communities and our values.

In addition, I believe it's significant for the President to have been introduced at American University by one of the leading Evangelical leaders in our nation, Pastor Bill Hybels.  I similarly find it significant that Evangelical leaders sat front and center as the President delivered the speech.

The message conveyed is simple. The Evangelical community in addition to other faith communities today lead the charge for a Just Integration Solution that reconciles the rule of law and security with compassion and reconciliation. The President's speech serves as a defacto Clarion call for our nation to address this issue as expeditiously as possible.

What's next? Focusing on the members in Congress who refuse to bring our nation together and dare to play politics with security, families and our core beliefs. Our strategy includes a Voter Registration Campaign called Fuerza 2010, engagement of additional conservative faith groups, meetings with Republican leaders, African American and Hispanic grass roots mobilization and activism as senior partners in our Just Integration Campaign and internet, television and radio messaging components.

Finally, I have been asked time and time again, If I believe we will see immigration reform in 2010. The answer is found in Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals unifying, serving and representing the Hispanic Born Again Community by reconciling the vertical and horizontal of the Christian Message via the 7 Directives of Life, Family, Great Commission, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth.