Push For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Grows, But Several Obstacles Remain

lilbawler2001 · 05-12-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

It remains to be seen whether a new bill would be able to garner the bipartisan political support considered critical to previous attempts. Several senior Republican members of Congress who helped push large-scale immigration reform legislation a few years ago seem to have shied away from leading new efforts.

According to several media reports, McCain expressed his own hesitation during a recent meeting with Hispanic business leaders. No other Republican lawmaker has yet assumed leadership of the issue.

In addition, business groups have reacted sharply to the proposals from labor unions because those proposals do not provide for an expanded temporary worker program.

While prospects for a broad immigration bill remain uncertain, smaller-scale immigration bills have already begun to move forward. In late March, Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) reintroduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, more commonly known as the DREAM Act.

The act, which has bipartisan support, would allow unauthorized students who came to the United States before turning 16 to gain legal status, provided they had a clean criminal record, and completed a minimum of two years of college or two years in the US military.

Although the DREAM Act would not apply to unauthorized immigrants who came to the United States as adults, many immigrant advocates see its passage as a "down payment" on a broader reform bill. Others see such piecemeal measures as the only type of immigration reform bill Congress is likely to pass in the near future.

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2009,0513-chishti.shtm

Pygmalion · 05-13-2009, 01:26 AM

We certainly need McCain to speak LOUDER to his Republican.
Since he said YES when he ran for the election, he can't say NO now.
He and the Republicans, the moderate Republicans should really support the DA.

On the other hand, it would be really annoying if they happen to make one CIR instead of one CIR and one DA.

sunny_thedreamer · 05-13-2009, 01:22 PM

It seem like nothing is going to happen until health care reform passes. His head is stuck in that. I just hope that health care reform doesn't become what ss reform was for bush. Remember bush didn't push immigration reform right after he won reelection b/c he wanted ss reform first and we all know rest of the story.

Pygmalion · 05-13-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunny_thedreamer

It seem like nothing is going to happen until health care reform passes. His head is stuck in that. I just hope that health care reform doesn't become what ss reform was for bush. Remember bush didn't push immigration reform right after he won reelection b/c he wanted ss reform first and we all know rest of the story.

I didn't remember Bush did promise about something similar to CIR when he ran for presidency. Maybe I was too young at that time.

Well, I don't think Obama will ever leave this CIR and DA waiting. There was a media conference where he said the border is on planning. So he is working on the CIR and DA, preparing for these two bills to be pass without a large opposition. I always believe DA will happen first because it deals with only students and young adults. It's easier for the politicians to handle the problem, while CIR seems behind the DA. Maybe they will just combine the two and make it one all together. I don't know. They had re-introduced DA this March already.

But the reason I believe he will never let it down is because 1) he's Democratic, 2) he won the election with a huge support from the immigration community and 3) he wants to get re-elected.

lilbawler2001 · 05-13-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunny_thedreamer

It seem like nothing is going to happen until health care reform passes. His head is stuck in that. I just hope that health care reform doesn't become what ss reform was for bush. Remember bush didn't push immigration reform right after he won reelection b/c he wanted ss reform first and we all know rest of the story.

Pelosi is promising to pass a bill before August.

Quote:

President Obama emerged from what he said was an "extremely productive meeting" with the House Democratic leadership this morning with a commitment to pass health care reform this year.
"We've got to get it done this year, both in the House and in the Senate. And we don't have any excuses. The stars are aligned," he said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she's "quite certain" that legislation will be on the floor in July, before the August recess. Obama said that's "the kind of urgency and determination that we need to achieve what I will be historic legislation.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/pol...health_ca.html

We know the house doesn't take long to debate and pass bills. The dems should be able to pass a bill in the senate with the help of the reconcilation rule.

K-Man · 05-14-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunny_thedreamer

It seem like nothing is going to happen until health care reform passes. His head is stuck in that. I just hope that health care reform doesn't become what ss reform was for bush. Remember bush didn't push immigration reform right after he won reelection b/c he wanted ss reform first and we all know rest of the story.

Straight from Barack Obama:

"The Vice President and I just met with leaders from the House of Representatives and received their commitment to pass a comprehensive health care reform bill by July 31."

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Push For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Grows, But Several Obstacles Remain