Billionaire Paul Singer Puts Money Behind Immigration Reform

Hedge-fund billionaire Paul Singer, a major Republican donor, is putting up his own money to back an immigration reform advocacy group trying to persuade conservatives to support legislation now being considered in Congress.

Singer, according to Politico, has contributed a large six-figure sum to the National Immigration Forum, a group working to garner support for the current bipartisan immigration efforts from the business community, faith leaders, and law enforcement.

“In my estimation he’s probably the first big high-profile Republican to put his name on the line,” Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum Action Fund, told Politico. Noorani, however, would not disclose the exact amount donated by Singer.

The high-profile GOP donor became involved in the reform effort over the past few months, beginning with the forum's “Bibles, Badges and Business” network, a program aimed at selling immigration reform to all segments of the Republican Party. His financial involvement reflects his usual support for pro-business policies and the benefit he sees to business if an immigration overhaul measure is passed, Politico reported.

Noorani said Singer’s donations show he “wants to make sure that there is a Republican forum for immigration reform, and [that] he’s contributing to it.”