Two prominent conservatives from Tennessee are calling on Congress to pass sweeping immigration reform.  WPLN’s Daniel Potter reports on the push from the Southern Baptist Convention’s outgoing policy head Richard Land, alongside former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The Chamber’s Ralph Schulz (left), Judge Gonzales, and Dr. Land (right) – WPLN/Daniel Potter

Gonzales and Land spoke at an event hosted by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, calling for secure borders, more visas and access to college, and a path to citizenship.  Overhauling immigration is a tough sell among conservatives, Land said, particularly the older crowd.

“The older folks are, the more reticent they are to embrace immigration reform.  The younger they are, the more likely they are to do it.  And I think that’s because people under 40 in this country, most of them have had significant experience with the children of undocumented workers.”

Land says in trying to change peoples’ minds, language is often an emotional issue. Winning people over takes assurances immigrants will have to understand English to become citizens, just as they already do, he said.