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More than a dozen area pastors will gather in Washington D.C., today, as part of a national effort to encourage Congress to pass immigration reform before the end of the year.

Carl Ruby, executive director of WelcomeSpringfield.org, painted the issue as a moral obligation and said the countrys current laws are harmful to local families.

The local group will gather with hundreds of other pastors nationally in an event called Pastors for Reform, sponsored by the Evangelical Immigration Table. However, opponents argued action is unlikely this year because many Republican voters oppose making such sweeping reforms and because of skepticism that the laws would be enforced.

The issue was highlighted recently when Republican House Speaker John Boehner, whose district includes Springfield, drew criticism for comments he made at a Middletown Rotary Club meeting earlier this month. Boehner imitated his fellow House Republicans whining, and said his colleagues dont have the appetite to deal with the issue because its too difficult.

Members of the Springfield group plan to meet today with Boehner, along with Congressmen Mike Turner, and U.S. Representatives Brad Wenstrup, Steve Chabot and Pat Tiberi.

The pastors will push for reforms they argue will improve national security, but also keep families intact and eventually provide a way for immigrants to earn citizenship after they have paid fines and waited behind others who are currently trying to enter the country legally. Rubys group, WelcomeSpringfield.org, encourages immigrant workers to move to the area and start businesses to help revitalize the regions economy.

We believe that justice for people who are waiting for immigration reform has taken too long, Ruby said.

While some reform is needed, the comprehensive proposal that was passed several months ago in the U.S. Senate will likely remain stalled in the U.S. House, said Jon Feere, legal policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C. The non-profit agency advocates for tighter immigration controls.

Despite Boehners comments, voter opposition to the Senate proposals is the reason reforms have seen little support in the U.S. House, Feere said. He argued previous reforms have led to increased immigration, but little enforcement.

Thats why I think its very unlikely that well see any type of legislation prior to the mid-terms, Feere said. After the mid-terms its a whole different ballgame, but I think that most members of Congress who are up for reelection are not interested in having this debate any time soon.

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Pastors to advocate for immigration reform