Bipartisan Senate Group Releases Immigration Plan

[downtown]

Your move Obama.

A bipartisan group of senators outlined a sweeping proposal Monday to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws, saying the time has come to fix what they called “our broken immigration system.”

In a joint news conference, five of the eight senators introducing the plan portrayed it as an effort not only to resolve the plight of millions of illegal immigrants living in the shadows of society but to modernize and streamline the legal immigration system.

“We have a long way to go, but this bipartisan blueprint is a major breakthrough,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). He expressed hope that the Senate could pass the bill by late spring or summer.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) vowed that the overhaul would not repeat “the mistakes of 1986,” when he said an amnesty program legalized millions of illegal immigrants but created conditions for the illegal entry of many millions more.

The other members of the eight who presented the proposal are Democrats Richard J. Durbin (Ill.), Robert Menendez (N.J.) and Michael F. Bennet (Colo.) and Republicans Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.).

The statement of principles unveiled by the group of eight senators Monday includes a path to citizenship for those in the country illegally, ramped-up border security and a reformed legal immigration system.

The full news story can be read here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...39c44a-6974-11e2-ada3-d86a4806d5ee_story.html

Obama hasn't released his proposal yet or full endorsed this plan, likely to prevent polarization before negotiations have finished. Something very similar to this multi-faced approach does appear to be the most likely scenario, where increased high-tech/merit based visas will be approved, an improved paperwork verification program for businesses and hiring managers, and a variation of the DREAM act, or a path to citizenship for many of the undocumented people who have been in the US for a long period of time.

What do you think? Is this proposal reasonable? Does it have a chance of passing the House? Do you think immigration reform is needed?

TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES

 

[dutchfire]

Is this proposal reasonable?

I think increased border control is not very useful, it won't stop anything. I appreciate it is needed to appease the Republicans though.

Does it have a chance of passing the House?

Republicans in the Senate seem to like this, so if the House blocks it, it will mainly be a loss for the Senate, not for Obama, right?

Do you think immigration reform is needed?

Yes.

 

[LamaGT]

I'm curious about what they'll come up with for legal immigration, the current system is indeed broken in many ways.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

Either Obama will come out against it, in which case it won't pass, or he'll come out for it, in which case the Republicans will move in lockstep to oppose it, so it won't pass.

So, it won't pass.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I don't have faith that the House will pass anything related to immigration, unfortunately.

I could get behind the plan even if I don't agree with every point in it. Something has to be done and as long as there is a path to citizenship for the illegals (and no more talk of 'self deportation') I'm all for it.

I don't think Obama will put out a plan that differs substantially from this one because of the polarization issue that you raised downtown.

I do hope they make legal immigration easier for everyone in addition to making it significantly easier for skilled immigrants. We need more citizens, period, if we want to keep pace with China in the long run. Of course, I could just be talking out of my butt as a very competitive individual who's applying mentality to my country, but whatevs.

 

[CivCube]

I think he'll back it. Who knows what the House will do. Whatever they do hurts the GOP in some way.

 

[downtown]

Either Obama will come out against it, in which case it won't pass, or he'll come out for it, in which case the Republicans will move in lockstep to oppose it, so it won't pass.

So, it won't pass.

Some Republicans have already come out in favor of the plan in the Senate. The US Chamber of Commerce, a major lobbying group that is tight with the Republicans, has come out in favor as well.

I think the dividing issue here comes from more business oriented Republicans who will probably support this move, and cultural conservatives who probably won't. I imagine a coalition between business Republicans and Democrats could get something passed in the House.

Republicans are very cognizant of the fact that they need to improve with Latinos in order to win national elections, and they can't do that until they address immigration reform.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

Some Republicans have already come out in favor of the plan in the Senate. The US Chamber of Commerce, a major lobbying group that is tight with the Republicans, has come out in favor as well.

I think the dividing issue here comes from more business oriented Republicans who will probably support this move, and cultural conservatives who probably won't. I imagine a coalition between business Republicans and Democrats could get something passed in the House.

Republicans are very cognizant of the fact that they need to improve with Latinos in order to win national elections, and they can't do that until they address immigration reform.

I'm sorry. I'd love to agree with you, but I no longer have any faith or trust that any Republican will be willing to do anything if it means agreeing with Obama. Again, I'm sorry.

 

[downtown]

I do hope they make legal immigration easier for everyone in addition to making it significantly easier for skilled immigrants. We need more citizens, period, if we want to keep pace with China in the long run. Of course, I could just be talking out of my butt as a very competitive individual who's applying mentality to my country, but whatevs.

It really kind of depends on what kind of immigrants are coming. Controls are there for a reason...if swarms of destitute immigrants all moved at ONCE, it could overwhelm social services and local budgets.

Opening the borders to more experienced tech workers is pretty common sense and benefits everybody though.

I'm sorry. I'd love to agree with you, but I no longer have any faith or trust that any Republican will be willing to do anything if it means agreeing with Obama. Again, I'm sorry.

The House passed Hurricane Sandy relief and a Debt package in the past two weeks exactly the same way. It's possible that the House could revolt and shut down everything, like they are likely to do on a number of other issues, but I suspect immigration will likely not be one of them.

 

[downtown]

UPDATE: it appears the House is actually making a legitimate effort on this project.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/the-house-has-its-own-bipartisan-immigration-plan

the same day a group of Senators publicly laid out a bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration reform, Republicans told BuzzFeed that lawmakers in the House are closing in on their own set of immigration reform principles — and could even produce bipartisan legislation in coming weeks.

While immigration reform has long been considered a bridge too far in the Republican-controlled House, where conservative hold enormous sway, these Republicans insisted the conference understands that the political winds are shifting and a deal could be reached.

"Although we have not seen the legislation text, the principles released today are compatible with the discussions in the House," Rep. Mario Diaz Balart said Monday following the release of the Senate's guidelines for comprehensive reform.

 

[Chiteng]

Meaningless. Obama is not closing the border NOW. Who actually believes he will if he gets his amnesty? Not me. No way in hell.

If the GOP caves...then it does. But they will be a pack of fools if they do.

In 1986 Reagan gave amnesty. In the very next election, GOP garnered 37% of their vote.

NOTHING the GOP does will ever get illegals to vote for them. It is a non-issue.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

It really kind of depends on what kind of immigrants are coming. Controls are there for a reason...if swarms of destitute immigrants all moved at ONCE, it could overwhelm social services and local budgets.

Opening the borders to more experienced tech workers is pretty common sense and benefits everybody though.

Well yes, it does make sense to let in more tech workers, which is why I tried to emphasize it.

But I don't want to shut our doors to those of lesser means, the poem written on the statue of liberty comes to mind. I'm not advocating opening the floodgates, but I do tend to agree with more immigration rather than less in most circumstances.

Also, in my mind the fact that to get to the US from most places requires a very long trip helps weed out the truly desitute and those unwilling to do some hard work to get ahead in the world. Those people don't usually make the trip here, though I could be wrong, this is just my opinion.

The House passed Hurricane Sandy relief and a Debt package in the past two weeks exactly the same way. It's possible that the House could revolt and shut down everything, like they are likely to do on a number of other issues, but I suspect immigration will likely not be one of them.

Which way is that?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

NOTHING the GOP does will ever get illegals to vote for them. It is a non-issue.

Perhaps that is because illegals can't vote anyways.

 

[downtown]

Meaningless. Obama is not closing the border NOW. Who actually believes he will if he gets his amnesty? Not me. No way in hell.

If the GOP caves...then it does. But they will be a pack of fools if they do.

In 1986 Reagan gave amnesty. In the very next election, GOP garnered 37% of their vote.

NOTHING the GOP does will ever get illegals to vote for them. It is a non-issue.

George Bush won 44% of the Latino vote in 2004, and various statewide GOP candidates have done better than 50%. Republicans probably only need to poll in the high 30s low 40s to win nationally. They were in the mid 20s in 2012.

There is no illegal vote. Illegals don't vote.

 

[downtown]

Which way is that?

By riding a small percentage of Republican votes + all the Democratic votes, while the arch conservative Republicans are free to vote "no" and stave off a primary challenge. If the Dem block is unified, the House can pass laws by getting about a third of Republicans.

 

[WindFish]

Meaningless. Obama is not closing the border NOW. Who actually believes he will if he gets his amnesty? Not me. No way in hell.

If the GOP caves...then it does. But they will be a pack of fools if they do.

In 1986 Reagan gave amnesty. In the very next election, GOP garnered 37% of their vote.

NOTHING the GOP does will ever get illegals to vote for them. It is a non-issue.

Oh Chitins, why don't you understand how voting works?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I think it would be smart for Obama to support this. It may be one of the only things remotely related to his "agenda" that he actually gets through Congress.

 

[emzie]

Meaningless. Obama is not closing the border NOW. Who actually believes he will if he gets his amnesty? Not me. No way in hell.

If the GOP caves...then it does. But they will be a pack of fools if they do.

In 1986 Reagan gave amnesty. In the very next election, GOP garnered 37% of their vote.

NOTHING the GOP does will ever get illegals to vote for them. It is a non-issue.

Indeed, nothing the GOP does will ever get undocumented immigrants to vote for them. Brilliant!

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

But I don't want to shut our doors to those of lesser means, the poem written on the statue of liberty comes to mind.

As pro-immigrant as I may be (a Spanish-speaking mission in the LA area is responsible) I always feel like pointing out that the inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty doesn't actually have any legal standing. It's not, like, a secret amendment or anything.

 

[warpus]

What's the exact plan?

I skimmed through the article's 1st page, and the author was far more interested in writing about the politics rather than the actual plan. Unless I'm blind