Comprehensive Immigration Reform Effort Relaunched In Senate

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats launched on Wednesday a new effort for comprehensive immigration reform, even though they so far have no Republican support for a bill that would allow some undocumented immigrants to gain legal status.

"Right now going down, figuratively, this long corridor of doors of the offices of Republican senators, and I'm trying every door to see if one door will open, and one senator will step forward and join us," said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Although Durbin, along with bill author Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and co-sponsor Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), acknowledged the tough odds of getting immigration reform through the Senate -- much less a Republican-controlled House -- they said it was important to offer a vehicle.

"We will never move forward if we do not have something to lay a foundation to have a debate," Menendez said. "The administration has highlighted the importance of this, but it needs a vehicle at the end of the day ... to galvanize around and have a debate on."

The bill combines border security and work-site enforcement with what Republicans have decried as "amnesty" -- paths to citizenship and legal status for some of the estimated 11 million undocumented men and women living in the United States.

Part of the bill will be the DREAM Act, which would allow some undocumented men and women who came to the United States as children to gain legal status with the aim of attending college or serving in the military.

The DREAM Act passed the House last year and gained a majority in the Senate, but fell just a few votes short of bypassing a Republican filibuster. Five Democrats also voted against the bill.

"Sounds like the last big one, which had bipartisan opposition as I recall," a GOP leadership aide said of the new legislation in an email. "Hard to tell what level of support this will have with Rs -- or Ds."

"I want the DREAM Act to be the catalyst for comprehensive immigration reform," said Durbin, the key legislator behind that bill. "Let's deal with the whole issue of immigration reform."

The comprehensive bill requires a mandatory employment verification that is meant as an alternative to E-Verify, a system already used by the government and federal contractors to screen for illegal workers. E-Verify, which would be made mandatory by a bill introduced last week by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), has been criticized for producing inaccurate results.

The Senate Democrats' proposed legislation would also create a standing commission to determine the number of employer-based visas, to help ensure employers can bring the people they want to the United States.

Menendez said the bill would help the economy by allowing more people to contribute taxes, earn good wages and support other workers.

"When I listen to my Republican colleagues, everything they talk about, they should be with us," Menendez said. "I don't want to prevent a set of circumstances in which millions of people who could more fully pay taxes and participate in helping to grow this economy."

In the meantime, though, Senate Democrats plan to continue to push for administrative relief for some undocumented people, particularly family members of citizens and DREAM Act-eligible young people. A number of Senate Democrats sent a letter to the White House in April asking him to stop deporting so-called DREAMers.

Menendez said they will continue to push for administrative action until comprehensive immigration reform is passed.

"As we are waiting to pass immigration reform ... there needs to be some administrative relief," he said. "It would certainly not solve our problem, but it would provide some relief that we believe the president has the power to do."

Comments

[progheadd]

11:03 PM on 07/05/2011

Americans, Dems and Reps, please contact your representative and let them know that you do not support the DREAM act or amnesty for illegals. This is not a partisan issue. This is an American issue!

[Ohioliberal]

07:24 PM on 07/02/2011

Doing this ensures republican reelection. If you must, accelerate all legal immigration petitions and show the illegals that there is a "right way and a wrong way" to come to this country.

[garylloyd]

07:00 PM on 07/01/2011

I'm 110% against amnesty but the Dream Act has potential:
http://dreamact.info/students

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following is a list of specific requirements one would need in order to qualify for the current version of the DREAM Act.

Must have entered the United States before the age of 16

Must have been present in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years.

Must have graduated from a United States high school, or have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher education (i.e. college/university)

Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of application
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. 16 is too old and a recipe for massive fraud. Lower it to 12. With the 5 year residency requirement, this means the oldest a person can be to qualify is 17.

2. Applicant must speak flawless English -- no problem for a 12-year old who's been here 5 years.

3. No way an applicant can be as old as 35. That's a trojan horse every illegal would be able to sneak into with. Again, the oldest an applicant can be is 17 and only then with documented evidence he's been here 5 consecutive years.

4. Citizenship is only granted upon completion of a 4-year BA level program which must be completed in no more than 6 years.

5. No one who successfully completes the Dream Program will be permitted to bring over his relatives once he becomes a citizen -- no chain migration!

[kndtloeser]

03:27 PM on 08/02/2011

Gary,
I have moderated my feelings about the Dream act. I think your suggestions are very reasonable. It is not going to prevent family visits from taking place. Contact with families will be maintained.
The youngsters will be able to realize their dreams. Good for the future of our country.

[Quinxy von Besiex]

01:28 PM on 06/27/2011

The republicans have freeely acknowledged that their primary mission is to be the party of no, to prevent Obama from advancing his agenda during the rest of his time in office. I struggle to find anything admirable about that.

[mayacanogop]

09:28 PM on 06/27/2011

Hows good is your memory can you remember Democrats and the left do the same thing to President Bush and are you one of the Metro White Liberal Educated Elitist I scorn who dont admit their past doings?

[Quinxy von Besiex]

10:14 PM on 06/27/2011

I'm not aware of being a Metro White Liberal Educated Elitist. How does one know for sure? I went to an engineering school, not a liberal arts school, does that get me off the hook? I don't belong to any country clubs, social clubs, or drive fancy cars, how about that? As for my past doings, not sure which of my past doings you're looking for me to admit. I've never used drugs or been to prostitutes, so I can't admit to those things but I'm sure there are other things I've done wrong. :)

And yes, the democrats can be super obstructionist, too. I'd say the same thing about them if they were doing it now. I belong to no party. I do not find that an admirable quality in either side, it's just that right now the Republicans are choosing that path.

[Dave Francis]

11:08 PM on 06/24/2011

The 1986 Amnesty turned into an absolute travesty of our laws, with paramount fraud and millions not processed correctly. On Wednesday U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Harry Reid, D-Nev., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., John Kerry, D-Mass., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., reintroduced a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The bill supposedly includes measures to strengthen border security, enhance work site enforcement of immigration laws, and requirements that the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants ( Most people agree its well over 20 million) present in the U.S. register with the government, pay taxes, learn English, pay a fine, pass a background check, and wait in line for permanent residence.

As far as I’m concerned, this will end up another big payout slapped on taxpayers. Heritage Foundation has already stated that taxpayers are looking at another mind boggling bill of $2.6 Trillion dollars. If you don’t believe it, then go and view the statistics in black and white at the heritage website. If you feel that another 20 million plus newcomers is alright on the US treasury accounting sheet, then will have even higher taxes slipping from our grasp. All its going to accomplish is millions more foreigners encouraged by our open border politicians, to keep funneling in a growing overpopulated America millions more annually, that the politicians fail to tell us about?

[Picosa]

01:37 PM on 06/27/2011

FALSE! the Heritage Foundation has been found to lie about illegal immigration statistics a few times already, and some of that information is from a BOGUS EMAIL that was cerculating the same year the article was posted (2006)....that's an old article that was debunked and anti-immigration people are still trying to spread it today.

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/04/cost-of…

8. "$90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers."

The link to "verify" this claim is dead. However, we found a transcript of a Lou Dobbs episode on Oct. 29, 2006, in which Robert Rector of the conservative Heritage Foundation made the following statement:

Robert Rector, Oct. 29, 2006: Well, assuming that we have about 11 million immigrants in the U.S., the net cost or the total cost of services and benefits provided to them, education, welfare, general social services would be about $90 billion a year, and they would pay very little in taxes. It’s important to remember that at least half of illegal immigrants are high school dropouts.

We checked with Rector, who said he was referring to both legal and illegal low-skill immigrant households (those headed by someone who doesn’t have a high school diploma). His research also looked at many forms of government spending per household, including money spent on parks and transportation.

[Just-a-Guy]

01:52 PM on 06/24/2011

"comprehensive immigration reform"

Code for: 'Let everyone who circumvented our immigration laws stay here, without any ramifications'

[lennyca]

01:02 AM on 06/24/2011

The real reason for illegal immigration:
If we look at the history,every superpower had slavery or some kind of cheap working class.
In the 21st century we call them illegal immigrants.
The Empire need them for serving the citizens!

[greateridea]

12:17 AM on 06/24/2011

Do you want 'true' immigration reform?....put the issue up for a vote.

[jose007]

08:48 PM on 06/24/2011

Very funny, you know if majority vs minority rule were to be applied, there would still be slavery in America!!! I guess you don't care..

[greateridea]

12:14 AM on 06/24/2011

How about concentrating on the people legally in this country; like those who would actually pay taxes, and who are out of work?

I can't believe the absurd claims of how 'beneficial' illegals are to this country, when very few have income taxes withheld from the paychecks, and virtually none file an income tax return. If you're so interested in 'doing-right' by this country, why don't you pay your proper amount of taxes?

[its miller time]

05:28 PM on 06/24/2011

It is not absurd if you look at history and data.

"why don't you pay your proper amount of taxes?"

Job security, the employer wants it that way, he doesn't have to register them as an employee with the Government avoiding expenses as well as when you are illegal
you don't advertise it?

Immigration Reform, they would have to pay back taxes as well as many other stipulations,
including no cutting in front of others trying to do it legally.

Since the Republicans won't let Obama raise taxes on anything, the amount of revenue
this would generate for the Government is substantial.

Also wages would go up, no more below minimum wage under the table cr*ap

[thebarse]

12:31 AM on 06/25/2011

So more illegals equals better wages for everybody? Doesn't economics state that the glut of something leads to declining prices? What other wonders do illegals bring to us lucky Americans tell us?

[jalicea2001]

11:51 PM on 06/23/2011

How dare Menendiz suggest that granting amnesty to illegal aliens would benefit America by having these illegals finally pay their fair share. When people ignore our laws by their very presence, why would they decide that they should finally obey the laws? American citizens who are unemployed have always paid their fair share when they are working. Instead of talking about finally collecting from illegal workers, put the 22 million unemployed & underemployed Americans back to work. These senators who even support illegals are a disgrace to our country's laws & constitution.

[Picosa]

01:10 AM on 06/24/2011

from the article
whether they’re legal, or illegal, The truth is that immigrants don’t "take American jobs," according to most economists and others who have studied the issue.

David Griswold, director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, wrote in an article for Commentary magazine in December:

Griswold: The addition of low-skilled immigrants expands the size of the overall economy, creating higher-wage openings for managers, craftsmen, accountants, and the like. The net result is a greater financial reward and relatively more opportunities for those Americans who finish high school.

And a new study by economist Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute — a liberal think tank that has been funded in part by U.S. labor unions – says that:

Shierholz: In the ongoing debate on immigration, there is broad agreement among academic economists that it has a small but positive impact on the wages of native-born workers overall: although new immigrant workers add to the labor supply, they also consume goods and services, which creates more jobs …

http://www.factcheck.org/2010/05/does-immigration-cost-jobs/

[bobterry99]

03:54 AM on 06/24/2011

Two points:

Incredibly, Rep. Luis Gutierrez told Keith Olbermann "I think [illegal immigration] does reduce the wages for American workers and undercuts them." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36936417/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/t/countdown-keith-olbermann/

Harvard University professor George Borjas and two of his collegues examined the impact of immigration on black males. They concluded "a 10% immigration-induced increase in the supply of a particular skill group reduced the black wage by 3%, lowered the employment rate of black men by about 5 percentage points, and increased the incarceration rate of blacks by a percentage point.

[aproudamvet]

02:26 PM on 06/24/2011

Bul caca!!!!

[its miller time]

05:44 PM on 06/24/2011

They would have to pay back taxes, there employer would now have to register them and he would no longer benefit from his illegal activity either.

If you enforce laws they have a better chance of being obeyed.

We did everything except give an engraved invitation to them for decades now. We don't enforce our laws, employers break the laws, so do millions of other citizens who have used and abused illegals for decades.

What is a "disgrace" is our previous Presidents, Congresses, Senates willfully and shamelessly kicking the can down the road and causing this terrible situation for all. If they had done their jobs and law enforcement had done theirs we would not be in this situation today.

If you have a chance for a better life "today" to be able to feed, educate your children and
work the odds are in your favor because US laws are rarely enforced I can see why people have done it.

If the President, Congressmen and Senators don't support reform then they are just as
guilty of kicking the can down the road. Because the situation isn't going to get better on its own and you can't deport them.

You don't solve a problem by ignoring it.

[jalicea2001]

07:18 PM on 07/14/2011

Why add more laws on the books to enforce when we already have many immigration laws now that have been ignored? Our immigration system is not broken, it's the politicians pandering to illegal immigrant groups that are the problem.

[cae973]

11:19 PM on 06/23/2011

As independents my family and I are watching this issue closely and will not vote for anyone of any party who supports a dream act or amnesty of any kind! Our citizens are unemployed, losing their homes, struggling to feed Their families and they should and must come first. Those who put illegals before our citizens are traitors to this country and to our citizens!

[its miller time]

05:45 PM on 06/24/2011

Put illegals before our citizens, OMG, how igno*rant of what Immigration Reform and the Dream Act would do.

[jalicea2001]

07:12 PM on 07/14/2011

I'm with you. The politicians continue to pander to illegal immigration groups & their supporters. I too will be watching our so called representatives and see just who really speaks for America's citizens & their best interests

[dasunx]

11:13 PM on 06/23/2011

Lets hasten the return of the 30,000 troops from Afghanistan and give them duty on our borders...... Once the borders are secure then we can talk about immigration problems...... If you are here illegally plan on going to the back of the line there are tens of thousand who have been waiting in the system legally.................

[Picosa]

01:14 AM on 06/24/2011

CIR will put them at the back of the line. The good thing is finally there will be a line for them to get into.


Immigration Law: There is No "Line"

It's a refrain often repeated on talk radio and TV talk shows when immigration is debated: Why don't they just get in line to become legal?

As one Latina interviewed for this report noted, "They don't understand that it's not that easy." In fact, for many people in the United States — including undocumented immigrants — there is no line.

Most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. find none of these options are available to them.

http://www.splcenter.org/publications/under-siege-life-low-income-latinos-south/appendix-a-immigration-law

[spytheweb]

05:37 AM on 06/24/2011

"find none of these options are available to them." Well that's too bad. Everybody's not going to make the cutoff. That does not mean you can crash the party.

[SBleeder]

12:09 PM on 06/24/2011

Living in the U.S. is not a universal human right.

[its miller time]

05:47 PM on 06/24/2011

That is exactly what is in Immigration reform, pay back taxes and go to the end of the line, don't tell me you haven't bothered to look at the bill?

[jalicea2001]

07:19 PM on 07/14/2011

We do not need reform , we need enforcement!!!!

[Johnnie Wren]

06:31 PM on 06/23/2011

American citizens should be outraged at all these attempts to push for reforms on immigration when our own government won't even enforce our current laws/ Democrats shamelessly pander for latino votes because they know thats the only way Obama will stay in office. Senator Menendez should be removed from office, he spends more time representing illegals than he does citizens. This bill would cover millions of illegals and folks there are many more than the 11 million the press keep stating are here. the border patrol estimates the number between 30-35 millions illegals. With millions of our own unemployed do we really need another 35million to compete for the jobs that are available and the college slots that come open each year. This spells disaster for our economy.Then add the chain migration this includes and our population will grow by over a hundred million. Totally ridiculious.

[brainonbrett]

12:39 PM on 06/23/2011

Something has to give. Anytime some real teeth are brought to the debate the left starts screaming discrimination!! Seriously?? Lives are being lost at the border. Close the border and then deal wiht a more than flawed sysytem....

www.brainonbrett.com

[aproudamvet]

02:38 PM on 06/24/2011

OMG!!! Some one who speaks the truth. The only problem is OBAMA!!!! He is the ring leader. I don't understand why people always bring race into things. I am not prejudice, but if YOU ARE HERE ILLEGALLY go back and do it LEGALLY. Someone said it was so hard to do, well, people have been doing it for how long? If our ancestors managed to do it legally, then so can they. Also, race has nothing to do with it because, there are not only Latinos here illegally, but people from EVERYWHERE.

[oafishcad]

12:37 PM on 06/23/2011

After deregulation, free trade agreements, tax cuts for the wealthy and the redistribution of all wealth and power to the few have turned the USA into a third world nation, Mexico and Canada will be building fences trying to keep US citizens from crossing illegally and Europe will be having problems with Americans overstaying their visas.