Tea Party Express Co-Founder Sal Russo Joins Grover Norquist to Address Need for Immigration Reform

New American Economy and Americans for Tax Reform launch monthly call series featuring conservative perspectives on immigration reform

New American Economy, Americans for Tax Reform, and Tea Party Express Release Poll Showing Tea Party Voters Want Immigration Reform This Year

WASHINGTON DC – Today, Tea Party Express Co-Founder Sal Russo called on Congress to pass immigration reform this year on a new monthly call series hosted by New American Economy. Russo was joined by Al Cardenas, Chairman of the American Conservative Union on a teleconference moderated by Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.

“Our economy, our security, and our citizens deserve a system that works,” said Sal Russo, Co-founder of the Tea Party Express. “Tea Party voters want solutions to the real problems facing America and immigration is no exception. We encourage Congress to take action this year and provide conservative, free-market, common sense solutions to the problems in our immigration system.”

“The majority of Americans know that fixing immigration reform is essential to America’s future,” said Al Cardenas, Chairman of the American Conservatives Union. “Congress has a great opportunity to bring conservative ideals to the immigration debate and remake our immigration system into one that respects our laws and our borders, accommodates those that want to come to America to contribute, and recognizes the needs of the U.S. economy.

“Today’s call is just the first of a series to discuss and promote principled conservative reforms to our present broken immigration system that will strengthen the economy, increase American competitiveness and highlight the “surprisingly” strong support for immigration reform from the political Center-Right,” said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. “Failure to act is hurting our businesses and our citizens. Congress can and should lead on this issue and pass reform this year.”

“Manufacturers, farmers, university presidents and leaders from across the political spectrum are all uniting in support of immigration reform – and now add Tea Party Express co-founder Sal Russo to that list,” said John Feinblatt, Chairman of New American Economy. “And as polling released today shows, support for reform is also shared by conservative leaning voters. It’s time for Congress to follow this lead and pass legislation this year.”

The new monthly call series will be moderated by Grover Norquist.  Each month’s call will feature prominent conservative leaders from across the country talking about the need to fix our broken immigration system this year.

New American Economy, Americans for Tax Reform, and the Tea Party Express today released a new national survey of 400 Republican Primary voters who identify with the Tea Party.

Key Findings:

• Voters want Congress to act on immigration reform this year: 71 percent said it is important that Congress act on immigration reform this year.

• Voters support a plan in line with Speaker Boehner’s standards: 76 percent support a plan that includes both improved border security and enforcement as well as a way for undocumented immigrants who are already in this country to stay if they pay penalties, pay back taxes, pass a criminal background check, and learn English and American civics.

• Voters support a way for undocumented immigrants to attain legal status or U.S. citizenship: 70 percent support a plan that provides legal status or U.S. citizenship for undocumented immigrants who pay penalties, pay back taxes, pass a criminal background check, and learn English and American civics.

• Voters would elect a candidate who supports broad reform: 69 percent would vote for a candidate who supports broad reform over one who supports border security and enforcement only.

See the full results here. This national survey was conducted by Alexandria, Virginia based McLaughlin & Associates on May 9-12, 2014 and surveyed 400 Republican Primary voters who identify with the Tea Party. The total sample has a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent.