Just where does New York’s new senator stand on a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants?

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, 42, upheld hardline views on immigration during her term in the lower house. Because of this, her designation by Gov. David Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton was met with resistance from New York’s immigrant communities and Hispanic politicians (who threatened to try to unseat her next year).

Now, Gillibrand says she’s changing her tune. But it’s unclear how much.

El Diario/La Prensa, New York City’s Spanish-language daily, quoted state lawmaker Peter Rivera today saying, “Up to now, all we have is imprecise talk.”

The New York Times reports today that after Gillibrand gave a press conference yesterday in Washington D.C. softening her views on immigration, reporters were still scratching their heads over where she stands on a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Would she ever support any law making that possible?

There are signs she won’t be let off the hook easily.

Yesterday, Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat, said on New York Public Radio WNYC that Gillibrand would definitely have to shift her immigration stance if she expected to get re-elected and continue winning his support on Capitol Hill. He didn’t detail exactly what changes he expected her to make in her platform.

One immigrant advocate said that even if Gillibrand does change her views, her being picked is still objectionable.

“Whether she starts to backpedal and even change, in the past she has used anti-immigrant rhetoric,” said Maryann Slutsky, campaign director for Long Island Wins, which promotes policy solutions to local immigration issues. ”(She) gives constituents an excuse to embrace this language.”

Slutsky tells New America Media that Paterson could easily have picked someone with a very different record on immigration. Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi was on the shortlist of contenders. As mayor of Glen Cove, he established one of Long Island’s first hiring centers for day laborers.

P.S.
Blog “Feet in Two Worlds” has published a transcript of a long answer Gillibrand gave TV channel NY1 on immigration. In her answer, she says immigrants arriving in a guest worker program would eventually be able to apply for citizenship. But she appears firm in her opposition to an “amnesty” (any solution that offers a shot at legalization to those who entered the country illegally). And if she holds firm to that view, she might run into political trouble.