U.S. House Takes Up Own Immigration Fix: No ‘Special Pathway To Citizenship’

Ianus · 06-30-2013, 03:11 PM

Quote:

WASHINGTON — The Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said Sunday that any attempt at comprehensive immigration legislation cannot offer a “special pathway to citizenship” for those in the United States illegally. That approach could block the GOP’s hopes of ever winning the White House, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi predicted.

With last week’s Senate passage of a comprehensive immigration bill, the emotionally heated and politically perilous debate is now heading toward the Republican-led U.S. House, where conservative incumbents could face primary challenges if they appear too lenient on the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican who leads the House Judiciary Committee, said he does not foresee a proposal that could provide a simple mechanism for immigrants here illegally to earn full standing as U.S. citizens, as many Democrats have demanded. Goodlatte’s committee has been working on bills that address individual concerns but has not written a comprehensive proposal to match the Senate’s effort.

The House answer would not be “a special pathway to citizenship where people who are here unlawfully get something that people who have worked for decades to immigrate lawfully do not have,” he said.

A pathway to legal standing, similar to immigrants who have green cards, could be an option, he said.

That approach, Pelosi said, would bring electoral doom for Republicans looking to take back the White House after the 2016 elections. Republicans, she advised, should follow the Senate lead “if they ever want to win a presidential race.”

In 2012, Obama won re-election with the backing of 71 percent of Hispanic voters and 73 percent of Asian-American voters. A thwarted immigration overhaul could again send those voting blocs to Democrats’ side.

“We wouldn’t even be where we are right now had it not been that 70 percent of Hispanics voted for President Obama, voted Democratic in the last election,” Pelosi said. “That caused an epiphany in the Senate, that’s for sure. So, all of a sudden now, we have already passed comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate. That’s a big victory.”

The Senate bill would provide a long and difficult pathway to citizenship for those living in the country illegally, as well as tough measures to secure the border. Conservatives have stood opposed to any pathway to full citizenship for those workers, and House lawmakers have urged a piecemeal approach to the thorny issue instead of the Senate’s sweeping effort.

Illustrating the strong opposition among conservative lawmakers in the House, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said flatly: “The Senate bill is not going to pass.”

Bowing to those pressures, House Republicans have said they would consider each piece of immigration separately as they tried to navigate the politically dicey subject that could complicate not only their efforts to reclaim the White House but also thwart some incumbent GOP lawmakers’ attempt to win re-election.

House Speaker John Boehner has ruled out taking up the Senate bill and said the Republican-controlled chamber would chart its own version of the legislation with a focus on border security.

In the Democratic-controlled Senate, 14 Republicans joined all Democratic senators and independents in the 68-32 vote.

Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee and an author of the current Senate immigration bill, nodded to the politics.

“Republicans realize the implications of the future of the Republican Party in America if we don’t get this issue behind us,” he said.

That now falls to Boehner’s chamber, where conservatives in his party have complicated his agenda on other subjects – few with such long-term implications as immigration.

Republicans and Democrats alike were watching Boehner’s next move.

“I’m hopeful that we can convince our House colleagues,” McCain said. “I believe that Speaker Boehner has a tough job ahead. I admire his leadership. But we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

If it fails, Democrats stood eager to blame Boehner and his party.

“Will he allow a small group, maybe even a majority of his caucus, to control the debate and the future on this issue?” asked Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. “If he decides to do that, we will then end in a stalemate and an impasse once again.”

But an immigration bill could be trouble for Boehner’s rank-and-file members.

“They fear Republican primaries from the right if they vote `yes,”‘ said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

But Democrats were unlikely to yield on their principles, warned Schumer, who helped write the Senate bill.

“No Democrat will vote for any bill without a path to citizenship,” Schumer said.

Democrats in the House, though, urged their GOP colleagues to keep working toward an immigration overhaul despite its political risks and fierce intraparty infighting.

“I know it’s going to be a tough slog in the House. I’ve seen what’s been going on in that place,” said Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md. “But we can get this done and have to get it done for the country.”

Goodlatte and Gutierrez spoke to CNN’s “State of the Union.” Pelosi was interviewed on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Gowdy, McCain and Schumer were on “Fox News Sunday.” Edwards appeared on ABC’s “This Week.”

Either I'm missing something or a pathway to a green card.....can still lead to citizenship,lol.

dtrt09 · 06-30-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ianus

Either I'm missing something or a pathway to a green card.....can still lead to citizenship,lol.

No, what he is saying is that immigrants will have to wait 13-15 yrs FOR a green card!!! And then, the usual five to citizenship. If they care to attain it at all at that point. What a fucking joke. If that is the case, screw the Senate bill and its military bonus party, keep things as they are, give TPS and let workers keeps their SSN contributions for retirement. All of this drama for this to come back to TPS, which is essentially what everyone, including Dems in the House, I am sure, are at this point aiming for.

Why do you think they haven't released their 'bipartisan' plan??

DA User · 06-30-2013, 03:25 PM

i don't care if it is a 25 year to GC. This sounds good. Whatever it takes.

Tonyhasadream · 06-30-2013, 03:30 PM

I honestly think nobody gives a shit about us, the way I see now is democrats are using to mess with republicans and republicans are having a hard time deciding how to approach this issue because democrats win either way.

dtrt09 · 06-30-2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonyhasadream

I honestly think nobody gives a shit about us, the way I see now is democrats are using to mess with republicans and republicans are having a hard time deciding how to approach this issue because democrats win either way.

Bingo. But I think it's also immigration-reform 'advocates': organizations, Univision, most of the DREAM act movement, etc. because I watched Jorge Ramos this morning allow Sen.Menendez give a merry-go-round litany that pretty much told the very illiterate and uninformed audience that watches most of Univision's shows - I mean all of them, except for the 30" abbreviated news slots- that CIR is is NOT likely to pass any time soon. All of the above participate in conference calls with the pols and are constantly made aware of how things are moving and it appears to be a different story than that being told to the public.

Really, all he needed to ask is 'Have you run out of time'?

I would have loved to have seen the answer.

Tonyhasadream · 06-30-2013, 03:39 PM

I'm really bummed about this whole thing now.

IamAman · 06-30-2013, 03:44 PM

The first step to healing is to realize nobody gives a shit about you or is obligated to do anything to help you. Then you'll realize how great this bill or any bill remotely close to it is if it passes.

dtrt09 · 06-30-2013, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamAman

The first step to healing is to realize nobody gives a shit about you or is obligated to do anything to help you. Then you'll realize how great this bill or any bill remotely close to it is if it passes.

Do you think the Senate bill is going to pass? I ask in all seriousness.

dtrt09 · 06-30-2013, 03:50 PM

Oh, another point, giving TPS would allow people to work and live 'legally' here while the ridiculous militarization of the border - aka, the 'triggers'- are 'certified'.

Omg, that is it. That's the way this shit bill is heading. Wow.

StepUp · 06-30-2013, 04:00 PM

The senate bill is gonna fail! I hope im wrong but my gut is telling me it is....

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U.S. House Takes Up Own Immigration Fix: No ‘Special Pathway To Citizenship’