House Democrats prod Senate to take up immigration bill

What does this mean exactly? Anyone have a guess?

Does the bill state to secure borders first, then in about a year or so give legal status? (All in the same bill so we can be sure that we don't get played and then they secure the borders but don't do anything about legalizing?)

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House Democrats Wednesday called on their Senate counterparts to not be undermined by naysayers who doubt passing a comprehensive immigration measure is possible this summer, saying that a bill should be brought to the floor as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, key Senate Democrats began circulating a 26-page outline of a border security and immigration reform bill. [Better than that damn 1-page "blueprint".]The draft, obtained by CongressDaily, calls for securing the border before giving illegal immigrants in the country legal status by increasing the number of border and immigration agents and creating a technology system to verify when foreigners leave the country.

The draft, which is being circulated by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., along with Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., would increase fines by 300 percent on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, require workers to carry a biometric identification card, and create a federal commission to recommend visa levels. The commission would be able to declare an immigration emergency.

Wednesday's call for action came mainly from members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus in response to recent developments in the Senate that cast doubt on the prospects of advancing immigration legislation that would give an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country a path to citizenship.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said this week, for example, that an immigration bill would "crash and burn" if it were brought to the floor in the near term because there are not 60 votes to support it. Graham has been the only Senate Republican seriously working with Democrats on crafting a reform measure.

At a news conference Wednesday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force chairman, said Graham has "undermined the whole process" and left Reid hanging.

"Let's not blame Harry Reid," Gutierrez said. "He was thrown a curveball this week."

Gutierrez said Senate Democrats do not yet have 60 votes to pass a Wall Street regulatory bill but they keep bringing it to the floor.

"That's what we expect from them on comprehensive immigration reform," Gutierrez said. "It is time for them to make their proposal clear."

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said lawmakers will not be intimidated by Graham's threats to walk away from negotiating other legislation if immigration reform advances.

"I will say to him, 'So what?' " she said. "We will not be intimidated by you."

Although Reid indicated this week he would advance energy and climate change legislation before immigration reform, Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., said he believes Reid ultimately will provide the leadership necessary to shepherd an immigration bill through the Senate.

Groups that favor an overhaul of immigration laws plan rallies and demonstrations in more than 70 U.S. cities Saturday to demand the Senate pass a reform bill and to protest a new law in Arizona that empowers local police to detain anybody they reasonably suspect of being in the country illegally.

House Democrats who spoke at Wednesday's news conference roundly denounced the new law and said it shows the need for Congress to overhaul the nation's immigration laws.

"The question is, where are we as a federal government and a nation and what are we going to do about it?" said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y.

Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., called for a boycott of Arizona, adding that he personally will not travel through the state.

Source: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cf...ref=todaysnews

I'm glad Reid knows he's the boss, not Graham.

I hope we get more details on what exactly they mean by this soon. But it's good to hear they're not letting Lindsey Graham's temper tantrums pressure them into tabling CIR.

i don't understand why don't they secure the border and legalize the illegal immigration at the same time. 2012 is the long year, we don't want keep waiting and nothing happened in 2012 AGAIN

Nice find,you can also download the 26 page blueprint here.Only reference to Dream act is the following.
It is also interesting to note that the immigration bill in general says it will take 8 years of interim status before someone may apply for Permanent residency.

This is pure genius!

Please please let this pass!

PLEASE

This has to pass.

I just read the proposal of the bill. Perfectly fine with me. It will take 8 years, but at least you can work and travel in the mean time. (but if we qualify under the DREAM portion, it will take less I'm guessing)

I just wish that the date for eligible persons would be those that have been here since 2007 or earlier and not since the bill gets introduced. Then people can still keep coming until this bill is introduced and qualify.

In any case, I will be forever grateful mainly to Senator Schumer if this comes to life.

"Secure the border" is as bogus as "reasonable suspicious".
Same party who passed the AZ law wants to permanently postpone CIR. THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL GOP is going to declare the border as "SECURED". E V E R.

I knew obama was full of ****. I'm sorry but he is