Illinois attorney general says time for immigration reform now

Attorney General Lisa Madigan is the latest high-profile public official from Illinois to call for comprehensive immigration reform.

In a news release Tuesday, Madigan says she and dozens of other states attorneys wrote a letter urging federal officials to pursue it. The letter comes as a group of eight senators is working on a complete immigration overhaul. Among them is Illinois' Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.

Madigan says Congress must come together on "this most pressing national issue." She doesn't outline specifics, but says the approach should consider the interests of businesses, workers and consumers. The Democrat says the time for an overhaul is now.

Madigan is weighing a possible run for governor next year.