Esperanza USA, a faith-based Hispanic advocacy organization, sponsored the June 13-15 event. Attendees focused on health care and housing in addition to immigration reform, says Ed Delgado, the Covenant’s director of prayer and evangelism.
Bush chose the event, however, to push for immigration legislation. “At this breakfast we set aside our politics and come together in prayer,” Bush said. “Each day our nation fails to act, our problem only grows worse. I will continue to work closely with members of both parties to get past our differences and pass a bill I can sign this year.”
Bush’s remarks were similar to those he made in 2005, when Covenanters also were in the crowd that heard him speak at the breakfast. At the time, the president wanted Congress to approve a guest-worker bill.
Recent attempts to pass immigration reform legislation have failed, and it remains unclear whether another bill will be introduced. As part of the conference, attendees lobbied Congressional representatives on various legislative priorities. Delgado says it was important to meet with representatives, regardless of the issues, “because it puts the faces before them.”
