What will the House do on immigration reform?

freshh. · 07-07-2013, 10:40 AM

Don't be surprised if our parents end up with DACA/TPS while the border is secured.

I guess the only positive thing is that some of us will probably eventually be able to file for them and if we are able to do so, it will be faster than the path to citizenship/legalization.

Quote:

For some conservative House Republicans, immigration reform is the strange uncle that drops by for a surprise visit: No one invited him, and everyone wants to get him out the door.

Worst of all, nobody's quite sure what to do with him while he's here.

When a broad bipartisan majority of senators passed a comprehensive immigration bill last week, they handed a series of uncomfortable questions to Republicans in the lower chamber, who have voiced problems with nearly every provision in the Senate bill. They believe there's not enough of a guarantee on border security. They worry an influx of foreign labor will depress wages and crowd the domestic job market. Many fundamentally object to the idea of extending a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants.

Given those objections, as Congress returns from its Fourth of July break next week, how will House Republicans react to the hot potato that's just been dropped in their lap? If they won't pass the Senate bill, but they still hope to forge an agreement with the upper chamber, which proposals will be watered down or amped up? And what might those alterations mean for the bill's future?

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is fond of saying that the House will "work its will." But where immigration is concerned, the will of the House remains murky at best.

Goodlatte pushes "step-by-step approach" to immigration reform in the House
The Senate bill allocated billions of dollars in additional technology and manpower for the Border Patrol, and it required the full implementation of new border security measures before undocumented immigrants could begin traveling the path to citizenship, a proposal hailed by some conservatives who have demanded border security as a precondition of broader reform efforts.

Some, however, objected to the bill's immediate provision of an interim legal status to undocumented immigrants as they await their green cards and an eventual path to citizenship.

"The Senate bill gives amnesty first and then says let's work on border security," said Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., according to the Sun Sentinel. "What I would like to do is see our border secured first and then work on a different paths for the 11 million that are here and, more importantly, reform our legal immigration system."

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told Bloomberg News that while the Senate bill amps up border security, "none of that will take place until [undocumented immigrants have] already been given the legal status."

"The legal status comes immediately, and we think that most people who are not here legally, that's the main thing they want," he explained. "They want to have a legal status here, and that's a worthwhile objective, but we think it shouldn't happen until you have the assurance that we're not going to have another wave of illegal immigration occur ahead of time."

At a news conference the day the Senate passed its bill, Boehner said any immigration reform that passes the House must be "grounded" in a guarantee of border security. "People have to have confidence that the border secure before anything else is really going to work," he said.

To assuage concerns among conservatives, House lawmakers may insist on a more stringent set of triggers and refuse to provide an interim legal status - let alone a green card or a path to citizenship - to undocumented immigrants until the federal government fully secures the border.

During the Senate debate, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, offered an amendment that would have instituted that additional threshold. It was broadly supported by conservatives but ultimately voted down by Democrats and a handful of Republicans. Whether the Senate would be willing to revisit that fight in conference with the House remains to be seen.

Perhaps a more vexing problem, many House Republicans object to the very idea of providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. They argue that citizenship is too great a privilege to confer on people who came here illegally, that it would encourage further illegal immigration, and that it would send the wrong message to those immigrants who followed the rules.

"I object" to a pathway to citizenship, Goodlatte told Bloomberg News, "because that pathway to citizenship is something that people who have gone through the process legally do not have the opportunity to have, and people who come here illegally get that special pathway to citizenship."

Goodlatte pitched a path to legality, not citizenship, that would give undocumented immigrants "many opportunities" while avoiding the impropriety of rewarding people who cut the line.

After border security and employment enforcement measures are implemented, undocumented immigrants would "get only a legal status," Goodlatte said, "It would give them many, many opportunities, but it wouldn't give them something that people who have historically immigrated to the country legally don't have, and I don't think they should have either."

Boehner has not tipped his cards on the likelihood of a House bill including a path to citizenship, saying he does not want to prejudice or impede the legislative mechanics underway.

If Goodlatte has his way, the House and the Senate are likely headed for a collision course. Supporters of the Senate bill have warned that immigration reform without a path to citizenship will not pass Congress. Many immigration reform advocates, already leery of the border security measures in the Senate proposal, have warned against any further changes viewed as hostile to immigrants.

If lawmakers can't bridge the divide over a path to citizenship, someone has to give, or the process falls apart.

In the end, the most consequential outstanding question is how far Boehner will go in accommodating the concerns of his base as the House crafts its immigration bill. If he reaches a point at which he believes the House has moved too far away from the Senate's proposal, he will face a choice: He could risk torpedoing the reform process entirely by passing a conservative bill on a party-line vote that would likely die in conference with the Senate. Or he could move a comprehensive bill to the floor of the House for a vote, even without the support of a majority of Republicans, potentially inviting a conservative insurrection.

Several House Republicans have already threatened to depose Boehner if he schedules a vote on an immigration bill without the approval of a majority of his conference. And thus far, Boehner has given no indication that he plans to move a bill without his troops behind him. "I don't see any way of bringing an immigration reform bill to the floor that doesn't have the majority support of Republicans," he told reporters in June.

Still, Boehner bristled at the suggestion that he would make any legislative decision based on a concern for his own political future. "I didn't come here to be Speaker because I needed a fancy title and a big office," he said. "I wanted to be Speaker so I could do something on behalf of the country."

Source

Ianus · 07-07-2013, 10:55 AM

The way this is looking I think the triggers might be augmented a bit.Border security could be initiated first for a set period of time->then some variation of legal status or simply to register for it->followed by interior enforcement trigger.

The two biggest problems I see is an expiration of legal status provisions[renewal] if the border isn't secured that some House Republicans might insist upon and how long would that first trigger take.In the end,any House proposal will have to moderate or it will not get pass Senate democrats during negotiations in conference if it gets that far.

freshh. · 07-07-2013, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ianus

The way this is looking I think the triggers might be augmented a bit.Border security could be initiated first for a set period of time->then some variation of legal status or simply to register for it->followed by interior enforcement trigger.

The two biggest problems I see is an expiration of legal status provisions[renewal] if the border isn't secured that some House Republicans might insist upon and how long would that first trigger take.In the end,any House proposal will have to moderate or it will not get pass Senate democrats during negotiations in conference if it gets that far.

Yes, the expiration of whatever is eventually given to everyone is a major concern. But, like I said I could see work authorization given instead of RPI. RPI seems to be a bit too permanent for the Republicans. Work authorization will eventually expire, fees will be paid to pay for some part of the border security measures and we get some sort of normalcy.

I would just like for them to get moving because before you know it, the end of the year will be here and I don't want December to come and the bill is still in committee.

2Face · 07-07-2013, 11:51 AM

If there is no travel authorization for everyone, then we should not accept anything. That would be a total scam. Travel authorization is a must. We are not some low class citizens who are to be held hostage and just kept in the country so we can contribute to the economy. It is a human right to travel and move freely. I just hope the Democrats don't budge too much. All we need is right to work, drive, travel. They can keep their benefits and green cards.

Happyman0607 · 07-07-2013, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

If there is no travel authorization for everyone, then we should not accept anything. That would be a total scam. Travel authorization is a must. We are not some low class citizens who are to be held hostage and just kept in the country so we can contribute to the economy. It is a human right to travel and move freely. I just hope the Democrats don't budge too much. All we need is right to work, drive, travel. They can keep their benefits and green cards.

Actually anything less than path to citizenship I pray fails and I'd hope Obama vetos, this is the biggest scam in the world, we will get used and when we're too old and need benefits etc we'll be tossed to the side, everyone here is better off just marrying and getting a GC rather than this shitty second class presence in the states I would seriously rather have nothing than no path to citizenship, I'd rather the system stay like this and 10 years from now maybe another extra 15 million undocumented just keep getting more undocumented till the population is 500million with 60 mill undocumented

Pianoswithoutfaith · 07-07-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

All we need is right to work, drive, travel. They can keep their benefits and green cards.

Pretty much. We aren't here to chose. We could remain with DACA and hope the next president keeps alive or find our means of fixing our status. The choices are very simple.

Happyman0607 · 07-07-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoswithoutfaith

Pretty much. We aren't here to chose. We could remain with DACA and hope the next president keeps alive or find our means of fixing our status. The choices are very simple.

It's that kind of attitude that 99% of undocumented have that always land us in a shitty situation, always being a downer like oh well just do whatever you want with me and it's ok with me.. Get some god damn sense of pride in yourself.. Don't you think you're more deserving? At the end of the day we are all humans we all bleed the same and we all hurt and cry the same stop being such a pushover.. You benefit this country.. They need you more than you need them so stop being such a little "oh well just use me and shit on my chest I'm cool with it as long as I can visit grandma back in South Africa"

Pianoswithoutfaith · 07-07-2013, 02:02 PM

thats because thats what 99% of illegal aliens want from this country. Ability to travel back to South Africa and see grandma before her death, work legitimately and drive to that work with out fear of a police stopping you randomly and finding out you don't have a license. Maybe its easier for some of us to start demanding more after getting a small taste but what about those who have nothing and have been waiting for something for 10, 20 heck 30 years? What about those people who really just have a CIR going for them and that's it?

Whats the alternative? Not apply to the house version if it passes both chambers? Go back home and apply from there? Get marry and adjust through there? Quite frankly my parents in their 50s, all they want to do is drive with out fear, and visit grandma back in Nigeria. We want more because maybe we are more ambitious but the reality is, this immigration reform is not just about us but our parents as well and many of our folks just want those 3 simple things. Work, drive and travel.

Now, do I think I am more deserving? Yeah I do but just because I think so doesn't mean anything will happen. These politicians are in control, not us so no amount of pride we give to our selves, will change anything here. If I had as much pride as I wanted too, I could just say to myself, "you know what, this country isn't appreciating my skills and work, I think I going to find a country that does and get the hell out of here"

If you won't take anything less than a path to citizenship.. then why did you apply for DACA in the first place then? isn't that a bit silly to say that when you applied and got approved for DACA? You could have said to yourself, "you know what, hell no, I am not applying for this low tier status! I deserve more than just 2 years of deferred action!" but you didn't say this because DACA offered you things you didn't have before, maybe you didn't have a driver license, well now you do or now you can get one. Maybe you didn't have a SSN, well now you do. Maybe you weren't getting instate tuition well now you do. Even the smallest things we get already can improve our lives dramatically. And they know this. Don't you think they know how many of us are obtaining decent jobs thanks to DACA?

We sucked our pride in and accepted DACA and you know what? If the house's version does passes both version, we will do it again. Thats the sad reality of it because we don't have anything else. We could get marry and adjust or go back home and try from there, maybe we have family that can, there's that option. But we aren't, no we are waiting for a CIR.

Happyman0607 · 07-07-2013, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoswithoutfaith

thats because thats what 99% of illegal aliens want from this country. Ability to travel back to South Africa and see grandma before her death, work legitimately and drive to that work with out fear of a police stopping you randomly and finding out you don't have a license. Maybe its easier for some of us to start demanding more after getting a small taste but what about those who have nothing and have been waiting for something for 10, 20 heck 30 years? What about those people who really just have a CIR going for them and that's it?

Whats the alternative? Not apply to the house version if it passes both chambers? Go back home and apply from there? Get marry and adjust through there? Quite frankly my parents in their 50s, all they want to do is drive with out fear, and visit grandma back in Nigeria. We want more because maybe we are more ambitious but the reality is, this immigration reform is not just about us but our parents as well and many of our folks just want those 3 simple things. Work, drive and travel.

Now, do I think I am more deserving? Yeah I do but just because I think so doesn't mean anything will happen. These politicians are in control, not us so no amount of pride we give to our selves, will change anything here. If I had as much pride as I wanted too, I could just say to myself, "you know what, this country isn't appreciating my skills and work, I think I going to find a country that does and get the hell out of here"

If you won't take anything less than a path to citizenship.. then why did you apply for DACA in the first place then? isn't that a bit silly to say that when you applied and got approved for DACA? You could have said to yourself, "you know what, hell no, I am not applying for this low tier status! I deserve more than just 2 years of deferred action!" but you didn't say this because DACA offered you things you didn't have before, maybe you didn't have a driver license, well now you do or now you can get one. Maybe you didn't have a SSN, well now you do. Maybe you weren't getting instate tuition well now you do. Even the smallest things we get already can improve our lives dramatically. And they know this. Don't you think they know how many of us are obtaining decent jobs thanks to DACA?

We sucked our pride in and accepted DACA and you know what? If the house's version does passes both version, we will do it again. Thats the sad reality of it because we don't have anything else. We could get marry and adjust or go back home and try from there, maybe we have family that can, there's that option. But we aren't, no we are waiting for a CIR.

That's abit silly to ask, I applied for daca because its temporary, if the house legislation passes then it's permanent and the entire immigration system changes, you're locked into never getting citizenship and most likely admiting to breaking a law.. It's abit scary how you don't realize how bad this is.. I'd gladly love to jot apply for the house and just wait for marriage but at the same time if you do not apply you won't get to work or anything else because with the reform comes e-verify and other things so you have no choice but to accept the second class status for the rest of your life or never do anything with your life, for me I'd rather be undocumented for the short term and then become a full pledged citizen.. Why the hell would anyone want to contribute and then when you're old and used up the gov kicks you out, it's a lose lose.. You will be contributing to SS and won't get ANY a benefits!!! Wake up and smell the coffee!!

Pianoswithoutfaith · 07-07-2013, 04:37 PM

So you won't take anything less than a path to citizenship, however you're willing to take anything thats temporary?

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What will the House do on immigration reform?