Politics & Government

Immigrants Could Produce 'Next Google,' Easton Mayor Says

Easton Mayor Sal Panto, city councilmen, call on Congress to pass immigration reform.

Easton City Council is asking Congress to take action on a new immigration bill.

Council approved a resolution Wednesday evening calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to approve comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

Three city officials -- Mayor Sal Panto and councilmen Ken Brown and Jeffrey Warren -- spoke Tuesday night at a rally in Centre Square in favor of the bill.

"Everybody should have the opportunity to come to America legally," Panto said. "That's all we're saying."

Panto spoke of immigrant contributions to the country, noting that companies like Google, e-Bay and Yahoo were founded by immigrants. The "next Google," he said, might come from a young immigrant in Easton.

"Maybe one of them is the cure for cancer," he said. "But they're hiding in those shadows of despair," a reference to a comment from Warren.

City officials criticized Congress for their lack of action.

"It's embarrassing to see the way they're acting," Brown said Wednesday evening.

The immigration legislation is designed streamline the citizenship process, while also holding undocumented immigrants accountable before they could get citizenship.
 
It's also aimed at cracking down on companies that hire undocumented workers and adding more security to the borders. 

The rally was led by the Lehigh County chapter of Organizing For Action and sponsored by National Council of La Raza and the Service Employees International Union.

With this resolution, Easton will join a handful of communities around the country, including Boston, Philadelphia and San Diego, that have passed similar measures.


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