Advocates try to jump-start immigration reform

With President Barack Obama poised to reshape immigration laws through executive action, two N.C. lawmakers are joining an effort to urge congressional Republicans to pass their own immigration reform.

The lawmakers, including Republican Reps. Charles Jeter of Huntersville and Nathan Ramsey of Buncombe County, plan to appeal for congressional action at a news conference in Hickory Wednesday afternoon.

“Doing nothing is not the solution,” Jeter said. “I don’t know what the right answer is, but I do believe we can get to a right answer if we continue to talk to each other. … I don’t think sitting in a corner throwing stones is accomplishing a whole lot.”

Wednesday’s event is part of a nationwide push sponsored by the Partnership for a New American Economy, a a bipartisan group advocating changes. Other events are planned in South Carolina and around the country.