In a major breakthrough House Republican Speaker John Boehner has come out in favor of comprehensive immigration reform.
"This issue has been around far too long," Boehner said in an ABC interview. "A comprehensive approach is long overdue, and I'm confident that the president, myself, others can find the common ground to take care of this issue once and for all."
Exit polls from this week’s election showed 70 per cent in favor of comprehensive reform. The GOP lost the Hispanic vote by a record margin mostly on the issue of immigration reform.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, said Boehner's comments represented a "breakthrough."
There are an estimated 30,000 Irish undocumented who would benefit from immigration reform. Previous bills have failed because of Hispanic opposition.
Meanwhile, newly re-elected Vice President Joe Biden is “very optimistic about ... immigration reform” given the makeup of the Senate.
Biden said the 55 Democrats in the Senate were going to have to work alongside the Republicans to make compromises all round and figure out the best “formula” for immigration reform.
The Vice President said, “Barack's re-elected, so this sort of cause to keep a second term from happening is done. He's there for four years. So ... I hope there's going to be some real soul-searching about, on Republican Party, about what they're willing to cooperate on."
The Irish American politician was speaking to the press aboard Air Force Two when he said, “If you take a look at the makeup of the Senate now, I’ve been saying all along, I believe there are a half a dozen Republican senators all along who have been under different circumstances prepared to actually compromise."
Read more: Barack Obama owes victory to Hispanics, Clinton, women and blacks
He continued, “We’re going to have to compromise too. It’s not like we’re going to go in and say, this is our deal. Take it or leave it. “
The Vice President went on to comment on the power which immigrants have in the United States. He noted that the Hispanic community played a great part in getting President Obama re-elected.
He said, “I feel very optimistic about, in my view, immigration reform. Because as we talked about with most of the Hispanic communities I spoke with over the last month, it played a major role. And that’s got to be a wake up call for a lot of my Republican colleagues who, like John McCain in the past, wanted to do something but felt – I don’t know what – I don’t know what slowed them finally. But I think it’s a different day. How it’s going to turn out, I don’t know, but the president and I are getting to work.
"As a matter of fact, I’m meeting with him tomorrow [Friday] at 4 o’clock. We have a national security meeting. So we’re winding it up."
Even FOX TV arch conservative host Sean Hannity has come out in favor. “We’ve gotta get rid of the immigration issue altogether. It’s simple for me to fix it. I think if you control the border first, you create a pathway for those people that are here, you don’t say you gotta go home/And that is a position I’ve evolved on...you can’t let this problem continue, it’s gotta stop.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.KatieMurphy | Nov 12, 2012, 06:13 PM EST
Saeanmore re gays marrying - there usually is no bride or groom. They are spouse 1 and spouse 2 on the paperword for civil marriage. Re the many churches that will perform religious marriage ceremonies for gay couples, what they call them is the churches biz................But I'm thrilled that finally gay people are beginning to make inroads of acceptance. The vaticans position is the reason that almost all of our 43 member extended family now attends church at Episcopal or Evangelical Lutheran chrurches where most of those churches will perform religious marriage ceremonies.
KatieMurphy | Nov 12, 2012, 06:08 PM EST
Its too late for this bully = the republicans dug their own grave, hating immigrants . I'm reminded of how when the civil rights bill was passed by Pr Johnson, he said -I've given the south to the other party for a century. What actually happened is the repubs still wedded to the past of racism took over in the bible belt. To them the bible justified slavery , and that mentality is still there re Hispanics who many repubs see as non-white.......Have to wonder who the next victims of the repubs will be - Irish catholics - the backbone of the republican party is the extremist protestants who hated blacks, JEws, catholics etc.
seanomelb | Nov 12, 2012, 01:29 AM EST
merefalow time to cut loose and join the far right fascists.How silly of me you are probably one anyhow.
merefalow | Nov 11, 2012, 04:23 PM EST
a house divded against itself.we are tribal,or we used to be,now we are mongrels with no identity,screw the multiculteral melting pot.
feeneycj | Nov 11, 2012, 01:55 PM EST
Obama will get immigration reform passed and secure more votes. All will become citizens regardless of how they got here. And then Obama will tax the heck out of them. A win-win for Obama.
seanomelb | Nov 11, 2012, 01:17 AM EST
195 democrats Allentown get the facts. I see your 'uncle tom" Allen west refuses to lie down what an idiot. Just think of all that extra revenue from the new legit voters and all those new Dem votes read and weep Allentown and the rest of your racists posters.
Seanmor | Nov 10, 2012, 03:42 PM EST
There is an other aspect of immigration that the media almost never mentions: what legal immigrants needed in order to obtain permenent visas up to about the mid 1960s. An a teenaged appplicant for an immigrant visa in 1958, I needed (1) a sponsor who was a U.S citizen and willing to assume full responsibility for my welfare if need be; (2) a statement from the Garda Síochána to prove I didn't have a police record; (3) proof that I was in perfect heahth by passing a very thorough physical exam: (4) agree to register for the military draft and serve if required to do so. Then after I received my green card, I had to register as a resident alien every January, including the 4 years I served in the Marine Corps. But my honorable dischage (aas an NCO) didn't fast track me to citizenship. I was photograhped, finger printed and subjected to an investigation for 6 weeks before I qualfied for naturalization. I gladly complied wit the rules of this great nation and proudly served in its military in order to become a U.S. citizen. Why should 10 million ILLEGAl ALIENS be handsomely rewarded with citizenship for openly violating U.S.laws and in many cases refusing to speak English? In the '60s when I was in the marines, I knew of at least 8 or 9 others from my local parish in Ireland who served in the Army or Natiobnal Guard. Shouldn't our Irish nephews/grandnephews, nieces/grandnieces now be able to easily obtain visas for permanent residence in this country?
MaryM232 | Nov 10, 2012, 03:00 PM EST
I've got news for you, the GOP majority in the House have told Boehner he can't speak for the rest of them. I think I've figured out why the Irish economy is in the toilet, you are all too stupid to do basic math. 12% of the US citizenry are black, 84% of the citizenry are white, only 4% of the citizenry are Hispanic, the other 10% we're told about, the so called 14% Hispanic population aren't citizens. They're illegal. 84% is a larger number than 4%, and whether you like it or not, black US citizens don't support amnesty, they want the borders closed and immigration laws enforced. CNN conducted a poll, and 72% of the population, democrats, independents and republicans all want US immigration laws enforced, all illegals deported, no matter if they're Mexican or Irish.
eiriamach | Nov 10, 2012, 01:16 PM EST
If fear drives the GOP immigration reform effort, as it seems to be driving comments from Seanmor, Gaelicpiper, and FlanneryT, there will be no progress for any group. Don't worry that "blood will flow," as Gaelicpiper suggests. Gaelicpiper has no idea how many US border patrol officers are bilingual and Hispanic. 'Bilingual' is a qualification for border work. With the Hispanic birth rate soaring past others, the GOP know that their anti-immigrant stance would leave them with no future. And wasn't it just a generation ago that Hispanics were loyal Republicans? "How quick bright things come to confusion," as Shakespeare said. We need a path to citizenship for all, now!
allentown | Nov 10, 2012, 12:40 PM EST
Pilib04, at last count it was 233 Republicans to 175 Democrats in the House plus how many Democrats want to vote "yes" for Amnesty with elections in two years? Good Luck.
Seanmor | Nov 10, 2012, 12:35 PM EST
By enacting so-called immigration reform, the U.S. government sholud also include a provision that unlimited FREE health care continue to be provided for those who ILLEGLLY entered the country, but instead of emergency rooms being required to provide such a service, V.A. hospitals throougout the country should be made accessible to all those ILLEGALS. In some cases, V.A. hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are not always filled to capacity and Illegals could be treated as these facitilies without any extra cost to U.S. taxpayers. This could be done by doubling or tripling the $50. charge paid by Honorably Discharged veterans like me (who LEGALLY entered the Country and served 4 years in the Marine Corps). Such a plan would would neatly fit into Obama's policy of redistribution of the nations welth. Additional money culd made availavle for the benitifit of ILLEGALS by substantially reducing pensions of disabled veterans and using he savings to help ILLEGALS. Since many politicians, clergy and journalists strongly support the rewarding of illegals who fragrantly violate out laws, the brunt of the cost ought to be bourne by law-abiding, tax-paying, loyal U.S.citizns, including verterans, especially those of us who Honorably served after LEGLLY entering the country.
BrianO | Nov 10, 2012, 07:54 AM EST
I think all people of color should be made citizens and all others especially those who speak english should be told to go home.
gobdawpaddy | Nov 10, 2012, 06:05 AM EST
Seanmor, 'Very few of the 30,000 undocumented Irish entered the country illegally and they all speak English'. But how many of them are currently here 'illegally'? Your contention that their spoken language is english is questionable as I on my occasional visits to a bar, have often wondered where certain groups of people are from only to discover after some time that they are Irish, speaking their own interpretation of english, some refer to it as mucksavageeeze, doo ye no loike, ye f****n wa***r.
irishpjk | Nov 09, 2012, 11:28 PM EST
Its Gone
irishpjk | Nov 09, 2012, 11:16 PM EST
wtf Too bad the G W Bush plan was shot down because so many people were afraid it would make him look good. However all is not lost it looks like some Obama people remember it and are trying to give it a new name. I just wonder how long you will leave this comment up for; most of mine don’t last to long.
cillowen | Nov 09, 2012, 11:05 PM EST
Norquist has the repugs in a pickle - having gotten them to sign a pledge not to tax their rich backers/contributers - the penalty for stepping out of line is being targetted for defeat. - it is working to perfection thus far. This explains the stance of repugger so-called heads
Parents | Nov 09, 2012, 10:51 PM EST
The nasty tricks pulled by the GOP holding the whole country hostage to make the Pres seem un-effective and a one term backfired and people won't forget it. The GOPs had an air of sleeze and nasty tricks and it started long before the election. Why should the rich get away with paying little tax and once again the middle class struggle with the huge debt? Taxes should be raised in the group that has been blessed for quite some time and it's time to pay down that debt so get working together and do it. People didn't blame Pres Obama for what happed they knew exactly what was going on and it has to stop, work with your Pres - no more hostage games.
seanomelbourne | Nov 09, 2012, 10:09 PM EST
How the ethnic racism shines through your post Seanmor. Allentown!! today Boehner conceded that he will consider changes to immigration reform. At least one dinosaur is moving forward more than I can say for a racist like yourself
pilib04 | Nov 09, 2012, 09:56 PM EST
The posts here tell us exactly why the Republiklans will never get back in the White House!
pilib04 | Nov 09, 2012, 09:54 PM EST
Seanmor, not the least bit xenophobic are you? By the way, what is 10,000 million?
pilib04 | Nov 09, 2012, 09:52 PM EST
allentown, apparently you have been asleep. The Republicans are scampering to develop a new platform that does not offend hispanics. Angry White Men can no longer elect a President.
allentown | Nov 09, 2012, 09:07 PM EST
Relax, there will be no amnesty for the illegal aliens. If Boehner is smart he will realize that he has the best opportunity to add Mandatory E-Verify to the fiscal cliff for his agreeing to revenue increases. Can't you just see the President and the Democrats putting the country over the cliff over illegal aliens.
Seanmor | Nov 09, 2012, 08:45 PM EST
Very few of the 30,000 undocumented Irish entered the country illegally and they all speak English. But the 10,000 million or so who illegally crossed the southern border include many who speak little or no English and countless others who expect free health care in emergency rooms. The current crop of young Irish immigrants are much more likely to make significant contributions to this country, as have many previous generations from the Emerald Isle, who quickly became assimilated. But the illegasl entrants ffrom south of the border are doing their utmost to change the culture , including the language, of the U.S.A. Do we want this great country to retain its customs, culture, traditions and Constitution or do we want to be dominated by Latinos who refuse to assimilate?
FlanneryT | Nov 09, 2012, 06:28 PM EST
Come On People... if you THINK reform will HELP a piddly number of Irish Immigrants (30K estimated) You've forgotten the behemoth monster looming over the Southern Border from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico... where MILLIONS of illegals flood over the border every year. Do you really think amnesty will help 30K Irish, when they have to compete for jobs with 12MILLION Illegals from 3 world countries, unable to speak English, Mostly with NO Education, and willing to work for well below minimum wages and NO benefits. No ONLY will it run YOU out of town, it also destroys the quality of life, the living wage and the infrastructure of THIS country, and the LEGAL residents who DO Pay taxes and compete for jobs. WAKE UP. ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL FOR A REASON. ILLEGAL WORKERS, DOCUMENTED OR NOT ARE ILLEGAL AND SHOULD BE DEPORTED. LEGAL WORKERS WITH AN L-1 VISA MUST MAINTAIN THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR VISA, OR LEAVE/BE DEPORTED.
oaklongan | Nov 09, 2012, 06:07 PM EST
Gaelicpiper, Good reminder that our Nation and Citizenship is not for selfish favor-gaining politicians to give away. Also, the selfish favor-gaining Koch brothers, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell can't give it to themselves, in their own pockets, or other 'special' interests, either..
Gaelicpiper | Nov 09, 2012, 05:05 PM EST
This Amnesty push is for the benefit of Politicians and political operatives; that is, a political party. An amnesty will not benefit law abiding citizens. An amnesty will produce 11 million low class, low skilled workers who will compete with our own citizens whom are already unemployed. This Nation, and citizenship, is not theirs (the politicians) to give away. If the politicians pass and amnesty-- BLOOW WILL FLOW. For those Irish that believe an amnesty will benefit Irish here illegally, those Irish will be compeeting with third worlders who will work for half the wages that any self respecting Irish would work for. Think about it.
JohnKinMD | Nov 09, 2012, 03:13 PM EST
Everyone should Google "Operation Wetback"
gobdawpaddy | Nov 09, 2012, 01:55 PM EST
I think Boehner has seen the writing on the wall. President Obama's garnering a huge percentage of the latino vote last tuesday has made him re-think. I also believe that the president will find it much easier now to avert the 'fiscal cliff'. I do not think the american voter will forgive the GOP if they push us into another recession by blocking a solution to this issue.
EphraimKibbey | Nov 09, 2012, 01:50 PM EST
I do not think that the GOP has too far to look into their past to find immigration ideas that would find bipartisan support. Obviously if we have real compromise, no one gets all of what they ask for but also no one walks away with nothing. Hopefully the realization that holding the American people and economy as hostages to keep Obama from being re-elected was a failed policy and that it is now a moot point anyway will allow the reasonable Republicans and the reasonable Democrates to join together to move us forward to prosperity. I think that the real news in this article is that Sean Hannity said something reasonable. Welcome back Sean, the real world missed you!
bonjouryall | Nov 09, 2012, 01:22 PM EST
American law, policy and practice has heavily favored the immigration of darker skinned people over light skinned people for several decades and in huge numbers. I hope this ethnic and racial discrimination stops. But I think liberals want votes more than they want to live up to their announced principles.
bob40wil | Nov 09, 2012, 01:08 PM EST
You're right Siobhan39, illegal is illegal.
simplesandy | Nov 09, 2012, 12:17 PM EST
well how are they going to do this and not upset a few. look at those who are waiting to get in and respected the laws of America. I say let all those Illegal leave and get in through the legal way. then we can sort them out. my Husband is waiting to get in the legal way. Will he get pushed to back of the line because those already illegally in USA will get first go . NOT FAIR.
Siobhan39 | Nov 09, 2012, 11:47 AM EST
Joan, undocumented Irish and illegal Hispanics? Your prejudice is showing. Shouldn't it be ILLEGAL Irish and illegal Hispancis?
joan1954 | Nov 09, 2012, 10:58 AM EST
I hope this issue helps the undocumented Irish and not just illegal Hispanics, Asians, and others.