Key US Hispanic lawmaker endorses Clinton

A Hispanic member of the U.S. House Democratic leadership on Thursday endorsed Hillary Clinton's 2016 White House run, a gesture that may prove helpful for the former secretary of state to garner Hispanic votes in a presidential election that was witnessing the issue of immigration rising to prominence.

Joining the swelling ranks of House Democrats who since now have almost unanimously backed Clinton, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus Xavier Becerra from California on Thursday joined the chorus.

"No leader comes better tested in the halls of Congress and in the foreign capitals of today's international hotspots than Secretary Clinton," said Becerra in a statement before praising Clinton for promising to reform U.S. immigration system.

"There is no stronger leader for hard-working Americans who dream to own their own home, send their kids to college and earn a secure retirement," said Becerra.

As the undisputable front-runner of the small field of Democratic candidates, Clinton has been a vocal supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama's immigration policy which seeks to offer amnesty to 5 million illegal immigrants, a move blasted by many Republicans, including those officially joining the presidential election.

In her latest move to reach out to Latino immigrants, Clinton camp released in mid July a new campaign video to stress her support for a clear path to "full and equal citizenship" for qualified illegal immigrants.