Senator Schumer asks Ariz. to hold off on immigration law

We all know what this means right? They are trying to postpone the issue till next year.

I wish I could meet this guy and give him a big hug.

Look, even after elections, what is congress going to talk about if not immigration. Everything will be over with. And there has to be consensus among all lawmakers about the issue. Violence on the border is growing, other countries are suffering, immigration levels are too high. Something's gotta give. The main thing stopping anyone right now are the damn elections. When it's all done, maybe senators will focus on actually doing good for this country and not on trying to please a few people back home.

I disagree that the main reason stopping immigration reform is the elections. Five months ago everyone here claimed it was healthcare. Then apparently it was energy, until that backfired. Next year it will be the presidential election. Wait until - fill-in the blank - what, the next terrorist attack, God forbid, they should be successful? What if the Times Square attempt had happened? Where would that put immigration reform?

This is not believable at all. Republicans have no problem passing their agenda with or without a majority in Congress.

Chuck Schumuer is one of my Congressional Heroes!!!! If this is delayed till next year I would be ok with that, but as long as something is done and I see what I need to do, because if I can't do anything here, I'll just have to go somewhere else.

Let's just say the GOP wins a couple more senate seats this year (which they are likely to do).Do you really think they will negotiate on an immigration bill with 41 seats instead of waiting till next year when they will have more power at the bargaining table with more republican seats? That's the problem with lame duck sessions IMO, the GOP leadership will likely refuse to move on any big or controversial issue till a new session begins.

Schumer letter on Arizona law


May 6, 2010
The Honorable Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Dear Governor Brewer:
As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, I am responsible for directing the Senate's immigration reform efforts and for conducting oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to secure our borders and ports of entry.
I write to you, after the passage of SB 1070, to propose a way forward to best address Arizona's legitimate security interests. Yesterday, you indicated that you signed SB 1070 into law in order to "finally inspire the politicians in Washington, D.C., to stop talking and to start action now." I cannot agree more that urgent federal action is necessary this year to address our broken immigration system--which currently produces an unsustainable situation where thousands of people cross our southern border illegally each day.
I fully appreciate that, as Governor of Arizona, you felt duty-bound to take action to address the security concerns in your state. But I simply do not believe the remedy Arizona has enacted will succeed in resolving the problem it is designed to address.
I oppose SB 1070, not only because it is wrong-hearted and is likely unconstitutional, but also because it will almost certainly fail to reduce illegal immigration into Arizona.
I propose an alternate approach. There is work currently being done in the Senate to produce a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill this year. This bill would have four basic pillars: requiring high-tech, non-forgeable Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs in the future; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.
This plan will provide substantially more resources for border security than the 10-point border-only security plan recently introduced by Senators McCain and Kyl, and will do far more to address the root causes of illegal immigration by implementing a secure employment verification system to eliminate the ability for employers to hire illegal workers and by mandating completion of the U.S. VISIT system to ensure that visa overstays are apprehended and removed from the United States.
The only way to combat illegal immigration is through comprehensive immigration reform, as it is the only practical solution that can pass in both the House and Senate. A bipartisan bill would likely require completion of significant border security measures, such as the border reinforcements sought by Senators McCain and Kyl, before any other measures could take effect. A bipartisan bill would be a "border-first" bill, but it would not be a "border-only" bill because securing the border is a necessary but insufficient remedy for fixing our broken system.
I therefore ask you to call on Arizona's legislature to delay the date of enactment of SB 1070 for one year in order to permit Congress sufficient time to enact comprehensive immigration reform to address Arizona's security needs. This reform, however, cannot pass unless members from both sides of the aisle work together to reach a compromise. Consequently, I also ask that you publicly call on Senators McCain and Kyl to immediately begin discussions with me to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation before enactment of SB 1070 becomes necessary.
I thank you for your attention to this important matter, and look forward to working with you to protect the people of Arizona in a manner that is both effective and in accordance with America's finest values and traditions.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Refugees

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plu...izona-law.html

Look, I always hear about all these letter being written. Im more interested in the responses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilbawler2001 Schumer letter on Arizona law There is work currently being done in the Senate to produce a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill this year.

I guess it's no longer a goal to pass reform this year. Just simply introduce a bill.

Same here. I am all up for another year of waiting if the administration truly thinks immigration reform would have a better chance of passing next year. I'm not completely buying into this, but I am trying to expect the best.

If you think immigration reform has a better chance of passing next year compared to this year, you are very sadly mistaken and are as politically naive as a baby. It's simple: Democrats are going to lose seats in Congress this year because conservatives are energized and liberals are demoralized with the failure that Obama and the Democrats have been. If it doesn't pass this year, it won't pass for at least another two years. "Next year... next year... next year..."--it's what they always say to placate ignorant people. Don't buy it.