“There are 45-50 Republicans ready to vote for comprehensive immigration reform. That’s a sea change,” Gutierrez said on Morning Joe. 
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat, said there’s still hope for immigration reform—even in the “dark” times we’re in now.
“There are 45-50 Republicans ready to vote for comprehensive immigration reform. That’s a sea change,” Gutierrez said on Morning Joe. “There are 180 out of the 200 Democrats, maybe more. Let’s have a vote. Let’s join with the senators, let’s get this issue behind us. As Paul Ryan said to me one time, I don’t want to do it because it’s the political thing to do. I want to do it because–as he said to me to me, ‘I’m a Catholic, we shouldn’t have a permanent underclass.’”
Gutierrez joined Morning Joe to discuss his new memoir, where he describes his family’s journey from poor migrants to a congressional leader.
“My mom and dad came to New York City in 1952 from Puerto Rico without a coat, didn’t understand the language,” he said. “Their kid got to go to Congress…Now I’m negotiating comprehensive immigration reform.”