Free Republic

House Speaker John A. Boehner announced Tuesday that he has hired a longtime advocate of legalizing illegal immigrants to be an adviser, signaling that the Republican is still intent on trying to pass an immigration bill during this congressional session. Immigrant rights advocates cheered the move as a sign of Mr. Boehner’s dedication to action. Those who want a crackdown on illegal immigration said the top Republican in the House has moved closer to embracing amnesty by hiring Rebecca Tallent, a former staffer for Sen. John McCain and fellow Arizona Republican Jim Kolbe. “Tallent’s hiring suggests he really does still...

Foes of illegal immigration accused House Speaker John Boehner of signaling his willingness to consider an "amnesty" bill after his office hired a longtime policy aide who has advocated legalizing undocumented immigrants. The speaker's office announced Tuesday that it had hired Rebecca Tallent as a point person for immigration issues. Tallent previously was director of immigration policy for the Bipartisan Policy Center -- but before that, worked for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and played a role in the drafting of the 2006 and 2007 immigration reform bills, which provided a pathway to legal status for some illegal immigrants.

U.S. Speaker John Boehner may be signaling he's willing to move on immigration reform by hiring an expert on the issue, a fellow Republican says. Rebecca Tallent, director of immigration policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, was set to start as a new Boehner assistant Wednesday, The Hill newspaper reported. Former Gov. Haley Barbour, R-Miss., is co-chairman of the center's immigration task force. Barbour said Boehner's decision to hire Tallent was "affirmation of his strong desire to move legislation in 2014," the newspaper reported. The Hill said Boehner, R-Ohio, often has expressed his commitment to immigration reform, but...