Gillibrand Mired in Ruckus Over Immigration

Caught in Upstate-NYC crossfire, senator may revisit hardline
By Gabriel Winant,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 28, 2009 11:38 AM CST
Gillibrand Mired in Ruckus Over Immigration
Students and immigrants march in New York, May 1, 2007.    (AP Photo)

Name a policy that rural Upstate New York and New York City agree on, and you've got, well, try finding one first. For everything else, there's a rock and a hard place for newly appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. First it was gun control, which the former upstate representative opposes. Now, reports the New York Times, Gillibrand is in trouble for her hardline on immigration. Her position, says a Bronx Democrat, “borders on xenophobia.”

Gillibrand reiterated her position yesterday: “I don’t support amnesty because I don’t think it will work.” Says an immigrant advocate, “Her past positions are pretty much out of line with the rest of New York state.” To get into line (and defuse a primary challenge), Gillibrand has admitted she may need to rethink her stand, and suggested various compromise ideas. (More Kirsten Gillibrand stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X