In a Switch, Emanuel Now Backs Immigration Reform

Once worried about red-state candidates, chief of staff now pushes Obama's reforms

By Gabriel Winant, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 10, 2009 9:34 AM CDT

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In a Switch, Emanuel Now Backs Immigration Reform — Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, meets with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, after a meeting at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, Tuesday, June 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Rahm Emanuel seems to have had a change of heart about immigration reform. In the past, he's been a lukewarm advocate at best for fear it would hurt Democrats at the polls. But in his new job as chief of staff, he’s pushing immigrant-friendly laws and predicting legislation on comprehensive reform by next year, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Sen. Chuck Schumer points out that Emanuel, who used to have to worry about reddish districts in Ohio and Indiana, now is “representing the whole country.” Emanuel says his views have not changed, but adds, “It doesn't matter what Rahm thinks. It matters what President Obama thinks.”

(More Rahm Emanuel stories.)

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