Former congressman says he's back in town to work on immigration reform, not run for mayor

Luis Gutierrez, right, appears Friday with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Photo credit Craig Dellimore

By Craig Dellimore

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Former Congressman Luis Gutierrez has moved back to Chicago to further the cause of immigration and rejects speculation he may run for mayor.

“This is my passion,” he said Friday.

He was referring to his new effort to launch “Our Nation’s Future,” an organization that seeks to help immigrants obtain citizenship and to register and mobilize them to vote.

Rebecca Shi, director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, is a partner in the effort. She said the argument is simple: It’s good for the country.

Labor shortages are causing supply-chain issues, she said, and immigration reform is the answer.

Gutierrez said he’ll only be participating in the mayoral election as a voter.