Politics | Rahm Emanuel In a Switch, Emanuel Now Backs Immigration Reform Once worried about red-state candidates, chief of staff now pushes Obama's reforms By Gabriel Winant Posted Apr 10, 2009 9:34 AM CDT Copied Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, meets with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, after a meeting at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, Tuesday, June 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson) Rahm Emanuel seems to have had a change of heart about immigration reform. In the past, he's been a lukewarm advocate at best for fear it would hurt Democrats at the polls. But in his new job as chief of staff, he’s pushing immigrant-friendly laws and predicting legislation on comprehensive reform by next year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Sen. Chuck Schumer points out that Emanuel, who used to have to worry about reddish districts in Ohio and Indiana, now is “representing the whole country.” Emanuel says his views have not changed, but adds, “It doesn't matter what Rahm thinks. It matters what President Obama thinks.” Read These Next Who added bill's proposed tax on clean energy? No one knows. Bryan Kohberger has admitted his guilt. Keith Urban interview ends after Nicole Kidman question. Soccer star Diogo Jota is killed in a car crash. Report an error