Rubio, McCain, Hatch ready to negotiate on pathway to citizenship

Ianus · 11-14-2012, 01:25 AM

Here is another one to keep you guys updated.

Quote:

Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), three key Republican players on immigration, told The Hill they're ready to start working on broad-based reforms next year that could include a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.

All three are expected to be key players on any immigration-reform negotiations, which are expected to move first in the Senate.

“Everything ought to be on the table,” Hatch said when asked if he’d be willing to negotiate on a comprehensive bill that included a pathway to citizenship. “There are a lot of very important legal considerations that have to be made, but I've always been empathetic towards resolving this problem one way or the other.”

McCain said he believes it’s “very likely” that the Senate will come up with a comprehensive bill, suggesting that the GOP’s poor showing at the polls among Latino voters, which many in the party have blamed for losses last Tuesday, is pushing more members toward being willing to negotiations.

McCain had abandoned his support for a comprehensive bill during a 2010 primary challenge from former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) and had moved toward enforcement-first rhetoric on immigration. But he sounded like the McCain of old on Tuesday.

“There's a sense of urgency in the Republican Party for obvious reasons, and I'm sure that everybody's ready to deal. But the specifics? Too early,” he said when asked about a comprehensive bill that included a pathway to citizenship.

When asked if that meant he wasn’t ruling out anything at this point, McCain nodded.

“Oh, I think it's very likely that we get it resolved, but there are going to be some tough negotiations," he said.

Rubio, a Hispanic who is trusted and beloved by the GOP base, could be the most important player to watch in the negotiations, depending on how far he’s willing to go and how involved he’s willing to be. He seemed more hesitant to embrace the concept of a big package than McCain or Hatch but didn’t close the door on a single, comprehensive bill. In the past, that’s usually meant a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the U.S., stricter border enforcement, a temporary worker program for industries such as agriculture and a crackdown on those who hire undocumented immigrants.

“People are interested in it. It's going to take some time,” he said. “It's an important issue for the country economically, it behooves us to have a 21st century immigration policy.”

Rubio said he “didn’t have anything to announce today” on how involved he’ll be with the issue, but said he was “hopeful we’ll be able to work on something.”

The Florida senator, who’d begun to work on a Republican version of the “DREAM Act” last year before President Obama ordered temporary visas be given to some undocumented immigrants brought here as children, said he preferred an enforcement-first policy — but didn’t close the door on agreeing to a broader bill down the line.

“As I've said, in my opinion, the first steps in all of this is to win the confidence of the American people by modernizing the legal immigration issue and by improving enforcements of the existing law. And then, obviously, we're going to have to deal with 11 million people who are here in undocumented status,” he said when asked about the possibility of a pathway to citizenship. “I think it'll be a lot easier to figure that out if we do those other steps first. But like I said, there are going to be a lot of opinions on this.”

Hatch, an original sponsor of the DREAM Act, voted against it in 2010, largely because of concerns about a 2012 Tea Party primary challenge.

*Shakes fist at Rubio*,Sounds like a weasel honestly!

On another note,I read in another article that Senator Graham shall be up for elections in 2014 so should be interesting if he shall still be apart of the negotiations in the 113th

Smooth · 11-14-2012, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ianus

Here is another one to keep you guys updated.
*Shakes fist at Rubio*,Sounds like a weasel honestly!

On another note,I read in another article that Senator Graham shall be up for elections in 2014 so should be interesting if he shall still be apart of the negotiations in the 113th

Good news.

I am optimistic that even Rubio will negotiate on and support a CIR bill.

DA User · 11-14-2012, 02:04 AM

It does not have to have a direct path to USC.

Sonawabich · 11-14-2012, 03:08 AM

Ianus should have 1000 AP points.

always informative, objective and impartial

2Face · 11-14-2012, 10:24 AM

Ah look at how the tables have turned. Before Hatch backstabbed us and skipped the DA vote to please the tea party and his supporters. Now, he "ought" to come on the table on CIR because he's same party is about to crumble within. Better late than never I guess. Out of all these three, I have complete distrust for Rubio. McCain will play a major role.

msaccountant · 11-14-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

Ah look at how the tables have turned. Before Hatch backstabbed us and skipped the DA vote to please the tea party and his supporters. Now, he "ought" to come on the table on CIR because he's same party is about to crumble within. Better late than never I guess. Out of all these three, I have complete distrust for Rubio. McCain will play a major role.

I just read this article it was posted on fb! Haha

Yes looks like old supporters are coming back. I agree with you I trust Senator Hatch and McCain a lot more than Rubio.

DA User · 08:01 PM

I don't think anyone cares how long it takes for one to become a USC right?

Even if it takes 25 years, I still would be happy.

msaccountant · 11-17-2012, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DA User

I don't anyone cares how long it takes for one to become a USC right?

Even if it takes 25 years, I still would be happy.

I guess in the end yes I'd still be happy too as long as I'll be able to but I'm scared they'd do something so we'd never have the chance.

I know it probably won't happen but still.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

They need you!

Forum links

Resources

Join our list

National calendar of events

June

Rubio, McCain, Hatch ready to negotiate on pathway to citizenship