January 12, 2013
Obama Will Seek Citizenship Path in One Fast Push
By JULIA PRESTON
WASHINGTON — President Obama plans to push Congress to move quickly in the coming months on an ambitious overhaul of the immigration system that would include a path to citizenship for most of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, senior administration officials and lawmakers said last week.
Mr. Obama and Senate Democrats will propose the changes in one comprehensive bill, the officials said, resisting efforts by some Republicans to break the overhaul into smaller pieces — separately addressing young illegal immigrants, migrant farmworkers or highly skilled foreigners — which might be easier for reluctant members of their party to accept.
The president and Democrats will also oppose measures that do not allow immigrants who gain legal status to become American citizens one day, the officials said.
Even while Mr. Obama has been focused on fiscal negotiations and gun control, overhauling immigration remains a priority for him this year, White House officials said. Top officials there have been quietly working on a broad proposal. Mr. Obama and lawmakers from both parties believe that the early months of his second term offer the best prospects for passing substantial legislation on the issue.
Mr. Obama is expected to lay out his plan in the coming weeks, perhaps in his State of the Union address early next month, administration officials said. The White House will argue that its solution for illegal immigrants is not an amnesty, as many critics insist, because it would include fines, the payment of back taxes and other hurdles for illegal immigrants who would obtain legal status, the officials said.
The president’s plan would also impose nationwide verification of legal status for all newly hired workers; add visas to relieve backlogs and allow highly skilled immigrants to stay; and create some form of guest-worker program to bring in low-wage immigrants in the future.
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I hope you'll contact your congressional leaders in the House and Senate today to urge their support of the reform effort.
6 comments:
Reading the NYT is your first mistake.
So, is the border secure?
The borders are a revolving door and the Dems are seeking an increase in their voter base. No regard for the monetary cost in terms of government assistance for those here unlawfully. If enough people break a law, is it a good policy to rescind the law?
Numbers USA say they are ready for the fight.
"If enough people break a law, is it a good policy to rescind the law?"
The answer to that question may well be "yes." Nothing diminishes rspect for the law like widespread disregard for it. Such widespread disregard often indicates the law is misguided. Think Prohibition.
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