Illinois immigrant advocates Thursday are blasting a Chicago Democrat who helped lead the party’s takeover of Congress last year.

Rahm Emanuel chairs the House Democratic Caucus. Newspapers have quoted him labeling immigration the new “third rail of American politics.” And he’s been warning his party to focus on border enforcement.

That’s angered the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and a political action committee called Blue America. In full-page Chicago newspaper ads today and tomorrow, they’re accusing Emanuel of political cowardice.

HOYT: He’s stiff-arming Latinos, the fastest-growing part of the electorate.

Joshua Hoyt directs the coalition.

HOYT: This is morally wrong and it’s also tactically foolish.

The ads are running in Spanish-, Korean- and Polish-language dailies.

Emanuel responded to the charges in a written statement last night. He said Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration reform. He remains committed, he said, to the cause.

I’m Chip Mitchell, Chicago Public Radio.