Protesters gather at Rep. Miller’s office in Rancho Cucamonga
August 9, 2013
RANCHO CUCAMONGA — About 30 people walked in front of Rep. Gary Miller’s office here on Friday, asking for a formal, streamlined and affordable path to citizenship.
With the U.S. Senate-passed immigration reform bill before the House, supporters of the bill lined the sidewalk, holding signs and engaging in chants before a handful spoke and then delivered pledge cards to a worker inside Miller’s office.
Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga, was not in his office during the protest. He was at meetings and delivered a brief speech to the San Bernardino County Lincoln Club, said Chris Marsh, a Miller spokesman.
“That’s what we want — an easy pathway to citizenship,” said Maribel Nunez, organizer for the advocacy group, California Partnership.
The bill — drafted and passed in the Senate — has stalled in the House and was not voted on before the lawmakers’ August break.
Shortly before the congressional session ended, the House Majority Political Action Committee, which wants to return the House to a Democratic majority, spent $275,000 on advertisements that aired on Spanish television stations. The ads attack Miller and two other Republican congressmen.
Democratic political groups have targeted Miller because he represents California’s 31st District.
“Republicans’ extreme records on immigration reform, capped off by their support for deporting DREAM Act-eligible young people,
shows just how out of touch they are,” said Andy Stone, spokesman for the House Majority PAC.
On Friday, Marsh said that since January Miller has met with 35 groups to discuss immigration and the congressman’s stance hasn’t changed. He will only support a bill that improves security at the north, south and ocean borders and ensures American jobs are preserved for Americans, Marsh said.
Democratic supporters also have criticized Miller for removing videos and press releases from his website that took a stand for immigration reform.
“We updated all of our electronic media … including the congressional website,” Marsh said. “As such, some old stuff got taken down and was replaced with new content.”