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Washington • Catholic bishops and evangelical leaders have met with top House Republicans to argue for action this year on immigration legislation.
Bishops from Washington state, California and Utah joined advocates in a series of private meetings on Wednesday with Reps. Paul Ryan, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Jason Chaffetz. They also met with Speaker John Boehner's top aide on immigration.
They said they told the lawmakers that a vote this year is a moral urgency as immigrant families struggle with fears of deportation.
The leaders and advocates said the lawmakers offered neither assurances of a vote nor definitive word that it wouldn't happened. Immigration legislation remains stalled in the House.
The leaders and advocates spoke to The Associated Press late Wednesday after their meetings.