Weekend in politics: Napolitano testifies Friday on immigration reform, and more

Phil Pruitt

The first Senate hearing on the “Gang of Eight” immigration bill is Friday.

The legislation was released earlier this week, but members of the bipartisan group held a press conference Thursday to promote their 844-page immigration bill. Supporters say the legislation will secure the borders and provide a path to legality for nearly 12 million people currently living in the nation illegally.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will testify Friday on the immigration reform bill before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but the detail work on the legislation won’t begin until early May.

Also worth noting this weekend:

  • · On Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry releases the 2012 Human Rights Reports, which cover the status of human rights in countries around the world; Kerry will participate in a “Hangout at State” Google+ Hangout titled “The U.S. In the World: What's In It for Us?”; and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin will speak on gun politics at a Third Way “Inside Politics” breakfast.

  • · On Saturday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel begins a weeklong visit to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and United Arab Emirates; Kerry heads for a “Friends of Syria” meeting in Turkey; and former President Bill Clinton will be honored at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.

And then there is this: The Sunday talk shows are certain to be dominated by what happened in the Senate with gun legislation, the just-released immigration reform bill, ricin, and the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Sources: Yahoo News’ The Ticket, ABC News, Associated Press and Reuters.