The New York Times, 01/28/2013 –
“A bipartisan group of senators has agreed on a set of principles for a sweeping overhaul of the immigration system, including a pathway to American citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants that would hinge on progress in securing the borders and ensuring that foreigners leave the country when their visas expire.
“The senators were able to reach a deal by incorporating the Democrats’ insistence on a single comprehensive bill that would not deny eventual citizenship to illegal immigrants, with Republican demands that strong border and interior enforcement had to be clearly in place before Congress could consider legal status for illegal immigrants.
“Their blueprint…will allow them to stake out their position one day before President Obama outlines his immigration proposals in a speech…in Las Vegas, in the opening moves of what lawmakers expect will be a protracted and contentious debate in Congress this year.
“Lawmakers said they were optimistic that the political mood had changed since a similar effort collapsed in acrimony in 2010. Senator John McCain…one of the negotiators, said he saw ‘a new appreciation’ among Republicans of the need for an overhaul.
“…[T]he eight senators…have agreed to address the failings of the immigration system in one comprehensive measure, rather than in smaller pieces, and to offer a ‘tough, fair and practical road map’ that would eventually lead to a chance at citizenship for nearly all of the immigrants here illegally.
“…The lawmakers intend for their proposals to frame the debate in the Senate, which is expected to take up immigration this spring, ahead of the House of Representatives…[T]he senators’ proposals appear to include tougher enforcement and a less direct path for illegal immigrants than Mr. Obama is considering.
“In a parallel effort, a separate group of four senators will introduce a bill this week dealing with another thorny issue that is likely to be addressed in a comprehensive measure: visas for legal immigrants with advanced skills in technology and science.
“…In a sign of the rapidly changing mood in Washington on immigration, the two groups of senators and the White House have been vying in recent days to see who would unveil their proposals first.
“…Still ahead are difficult negotiations over how long immigrants who gain provisional status would have to wait before they could become citizens…The senators also anticipate a fight over how to bring in low-wage workers in the future.”
To read the full article, please click here.
“A bipartisan group of senators has agreed on a set of principles for a sweeping overhaul of the immigration system, including a pathway to American citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants that would hinge on progress in securing the borders and ensuring that foreigners leave the country when their visas expire.
“The senators were able to reach a deal by incorporating the Democrats’ insistence on a single comprehensive bill that would not deny eventual citizenship to illegal immigrants, with Republican demands that strong border and interior enforcement had to be clearly in place before Congress could consider legal status for illegal immigrants.
“Their blueprint…will allow them to stake out their position one day before President Obama outlines his immigration proposals in a speech…in Las Vegas, in the opening moves of what lawmakers expect will be a protracted and contentious debate in Congress this year.
“Lawmakers said they were optimistic that the political mood had changed since a similar effort collapsed in acrimony in 2010. Senator John McCain…one of the negotiators, said he saw ‘a new appreciation’ among Republicans of the need for an overhaul.
“…[T]he eight senators…have agreed to address the failings of the immigration system in one comprehensive measure, rather than in smaller pieces, and to offer a ‘tough, fair and practical road map’ that would eventually lead to a chance at citizenship for nearly all of the immigrants here illegally.
“…The lawmakers intend for their proposals to frame the debate in the Senate, which is expected to take up immigration this spring, ahead of the House of Representatives…[T]he senators’ proposals appear to include tougher enforcement and a less direct path for illegal immigrants than Mr. Obama is considering.
“In a parallel effort, a separate group of four senators will introduce a bill this week dealing with another thorny issue that is likely to be addressed in a comprehensive measure: visas for legal immigrants with advanced skills in technology and science.
“…In a sign of the rapidly changing mood in Washington on immigration, the two groups of senators and the White House have been vying in recent days to see who would unveil their proposals first.
“…Still ahead are difficult negotiations over how long immigrants who gain provisional status would have to wait before they could become citizens…The senators also anticipate a fight over how to bring in low-wage workers in the future.”
To read the full article, please click here.
