Conservatives aim to sell GOP on immigration

WASHINGTON — During a rally on the National Mall last week, thousands of immigrants, union workers, civil rights activists and Democratic leaders called on the Republican-controlled House to pass a bill to revamp the nation's immigration system.

But a much smaller group heading to Capitol Hill later this month may be more influential over Republicans who are skeptical that an overhaul is a good idea.

About 300 conservatives from around the country and with varying backgrounds — pastors, farmers, police chiefs, business owners — will arrive in Washington on Oct. 28 to meet with Republican lawmakers and make a conservative pitch for a new immigration law.

Participants in the "fly-in" say they can better speak to the conservative members of the U.S. House since they share many ideals on government.

"I'm not an advocate of open borders. I'm not an advocate of blanket amnesty. I just see (undocumented immigrants) who are hurting and want to contribute to their family ... and the system is not working for them," said Jeremy Hudson, a pastor whose Fellowship Christian Church operates in House Speaker John Boehner's Ohio district.

The fly-in is being organized not by conservative groups, but organizations that have focused on legalizing millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally and changing the legal immigration system to bring in more foreign workers.

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