/ Modified aug 27, 2013 12:36 p.m.

UPDATED: McCain, Flake Hold Mesa Town Hall on Immigration

They helped get it through U.S. Senate; now stalled in House, where Republicans say it has little chance.

Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake participated in an "immigration conversation" in Mesa sponsored by the Arizona Republic.

Tuesday's event featured the two, who were members of the "Gang of Eight" who pushed a comprehensive immigration reform bill through the Senate earlier this year.

During the conversation, the Arizona senators said the immigration bill will achieve 90 percent control of the U.S.-Mexico border, and if that doesn't happen in five years another $2 billion will be poured into the effort.

The Republicans have spent part of the congressional summer recess trying to drum up public support for the plan that has stalled in the House.

Ariz. Rep. Paul Gosar, another Republican, said their efforts are going nowhere in the GOP-controlled House. He said there's no way the House will pass a bill like the Senate version that includes a path to citizenship for the 11 million people in the country without proper documentation.

The House instead will take up small immigration bills separately, starting with securing the border, Gosar said.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona