Sen. Schumer: 'Darn good chance' of passing immigration reform

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...iref=allsearch

Washington (CNN) - Sen. Charles Schumer, the third ranking Senate Democrat, said Sunday that he and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham will officially restart immigration reform talks that crumbled two years ago.

Schumer told NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that he and Graham have a plan designed to appeal to stakeholders on all sides of the highly contentious issue and he's optimistic that it can get through a gridlocked Congress.


"[Sen.] Graham and I are talking to our colleagues about this right now. I think we have a darn good chance using this blueprint to get something done this year," Schumer said.

The plan includes four key elements: stronger border security, creation of non-forgeable proof-of-citizenship documents, fairer legal immigration for desirable candidates, and a tough-love path to citizenship for those already in the U.S.

That path, Schumer said, would require applicants to learn English, wait their turn behind immigrants who've used proper legal channels, hold down a steady job, and refrain from criminal activity.

The long-simmering issue of immigration reform has been thrust into the spotlight again on the heels of Republicans' Election Day losses in races where the Latino vote played a key role. Mitt Romney, the GOP nominee, won only 27% of the Latino vote.

In the days since the election, Republican lawmakers, political commentators and thought leaders have taken on a more conciliatory tone when discussing immigration. Graham himself was quick to point out that Republicans missed an opportunity.

"Conservatism would sell with Hispanics. They're hard working, entrepreneurial, pro-life, pro-military," Graham said Sunday on CBS. "But the truth of the matter is the immigration debate that we engaged in in 2006 and 2007 has built a wall between the Republican Party and the Hispanic community because of the tone and rhetoric."

Graham made clear that he wasn't inclined to miss the opportunity the next time around.

"It's one thing to shoot yourself in the foot. Just don't reload the gun. So I intend not to reload this gun when it comes to Hispanics. I intend to tear down this wall and pass an immigration reform bill."

But it remains to be seen how much support can be rallied. Schumer and Graham have made several attempts to tackle immigration reform. In 2010, President Barack Obama expressed support for Schumer and Graham's efforts, saying he was "pleased" to see a promising bipartisan framework.

"We had put together a comprehensive detailed blueprint on immigration reform. It had the real potential for bi-partisan support based on the theory that most Americans are for legal immigration but very much against illegal immigration," Schumer said.

However, their efforts drew fire from all sides, with the progressive publication The American Prospect at one point calling their plan "ridiculous" and GOP party committees in Graham's home state of South Carolina censuring him for his congressional votes on immigration. Talks eventually stalled.

On Sunday, Schumer didn't offer any more specifics about the timeline for talks or implementation. He did emphasize the need for compromise from both sides and a strong role for moderate Republican voices as the talks unfold.

They could just pull the CIR from last one and revise it.

Rinse and repeat, right DA user?

I wonder what will be the requirements for the path to citizenship. I wonder if it will be like the Dream Act but tougher requirements. I can't wait until we have more specifics. Thanks for the article

I was just thinking and I remembered like the obvious requirements such as know English, a complete background check. I think other requirements should include things like for example be here for at least 10 yrs, pay fines for not paying taxes and breaking the law. I wonder if they will include anything else.....

Also how will this affect Daca applicants who have and will be approved. Will we have per say an advantage over others...or will we automatically receive a form of legal residency. So many questions.

I certainly think that DA will be included as an amendment to a broader CIR bill or they might pass DA first. But DACA beneficiaries will definitely have an upper hand and will be given a conditional green card for sure. Can't say the same about the rest. Every one will be legalized but not sure how or what form of status they'll give them. I am dead sure though that we will have our green cards. It just makes sense and would make the process efficient.

its about time

I wonder what they mean by "wait their turn behind immigrants who have used legal channels"... By legal channels do they mean the millions of people who applied and are waiting for a Visa outside of the US or do they mean those that applied to get a greencard within the US? Or do they simply mean those that came here with a Visa already?

I just hope I don't have to wait 3+ years after the bill has passed to get a GC.

Same here.

In the current system the three most common ways to immigrate legally are family-based, employment based, and diversity visa (green card lottery). The backlog for family-based greencard for any relatives of USC other than spouse and underage children is anywhere between 2 to 23 years. The backlog for employment-based greencard can be as long as 10 years, unless you're very higly educated and experienced.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bul...etin_5779.html

The backlog is ridiculous, and as a matter of fact Bush's failed CIR actually proposed to increase the quota so all these people could immediately file for green card. Even if you have to wait behind them, you wouldn't wait for long with the new quota numbers.