House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said House Republicans on Cinco de Mayo should be as courageous as the Mexican militia that defeated the French army in the Battle of Puebla to pass amnesty legislation.

Pelosi, who has said that passing amnesty legislation would be more important to her than becoming Speaker again, said “the time is now for comprehensive immigration reform” and for “House Republicans to emulate the bravery demonstrated in the Battle of Puebla, recognize the importance of immigrants and family unification, and give us a vote on a comprehensive bill that reforms our broken immigration system.”

“As we look back on a seminal moment in history, let us also look forward to the best ways we can continue to embrace the diverse heritage and rich history of Latinos in the United States,” Pelosi said in a statement. “There is no better way to acknowledge the important contributions to our country of America’s Latino community than by enacting comprehensive immigration reform.”

Even though the Congressional Budget Office has determined that amnesty legislation would lower the wages of American workers and detrimentally impact Hispanics on the lower end of the economic ladder, Democrats and Republicans backed by big-business and the high-tech industry have been relentless in advocating for sweeping amnesty legislation.

Pro-amnesty advocates like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (R-IL) have said that this year is the last chance to pass a significant amnesty bill. GOP Conference Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers recently indicated that Republican leaders will try to bring legislation to the floor in August while Schumer has said he believes amnesty legislation could passed in “June or July.” Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) has indicated that there is a “grand bargain” that is in the works in the coming months on possible amnesty legislation.