Senate Democrats to Push New Immigration Reform Plan

FHL · 04-29-2010, 01:07 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/...ion/index.html

Quote:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other leading Democratic senators will formally unveil the outlines of legislation for comprehensive immigration reform late Thursday, CNN has learned.

Two senior Democratic sources say the Senate Democrats will discuss a proposal drafted by Reid, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez.

[b]"This is a draft that reflects months of bipartisan work. It is intended to serve as an invitation to Republicans to look at it and sit down to solve problems with us,"one of the sources said.

The 26-page draft obtained by CNN attempts to woo GOP senators in part by calling for "concrete benchmarks" to secure the border before granting illegal immigrants the opportunity to gain legal status.

Those benchmarks include: increasing the number border patrol officers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, increasing the number of personnel available to inspect for drugs and contraband, and improving technology used to assist ICE agents.

The draft proposal includes a process to legalize an estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

Reid, Schumer, Menendez and three other Democratic senators met Wednesday evening with immigration reform advocates and agreed to hold a news conference Thursday to unveil the draft, CNN has learned.

Other leaders on the issue have been trying to secure elusive GOP support for the push, which is one of President Obama's top domestic priorities. Schumer said Thursday that he is continuing to meet with Republicans on the issue.

Democratic sources have suggested that Reid plans to go forward with immigration reform with or without GOP support. Many of those sources privately admit a key reason is to appeal to Hispanic voters in Nevada, who will play a big role in Reid's uphill battle for re-election in November.

However, some influential immigration reform advocates like Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, have said they are concerned about pushing legislation for political reasons when that legislation has no chance of passage.

S.Aran · 04-29-2010, 01:32 PM

No comment. Honestly. No comment.

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Senate Democrats to Push New Immigration Reform Plan