Both Republicans and Democrats agreed at the weekend that a path to citizenship for the undocumented will be part of the new immigration reform bill.
A reform bill could affect as many as 30,000 Irish undocumented. The issue of future flow to America is also under discussion and could mean more Irish will be allowed to emigrate.
The New York Times reported that a bipartisan consensus has been reached that will allow an estimated 11 million undocumented to become citizens after border security measures are approved.
The bipartisan group is led by Senator Charles Schumer of New York and Senator John McCain of Arizona and includes key senators from both sides.
Senator Schumer stated, “We on the Democratic side have said that we are flexible and we want to get a bill. But there’s a bottom line, and that’s a path to citizenship for the 11 or so million people who qualify. We’ve made great, great progress with our Republican colleagues.”
President Obama is set to unveil his proposals for reform on Tuesday in Las Vegas in what is expected to be the beginning of a major new initiative of his second term.
Read more on Irish immigration and reform here
Senator John McCain, Republican, of Arizona, stated he saw “a new appreciation” among Republicans of the need for an overhaul.
“Look at the last election,” McCain said. “We are losing dramatically the Hispanic vote, which we think should be ours.We can’t go on forever with 11 million people living in this country in the shadows in an illegal status.”
The five page draft is also backed by Senator Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who is seen as a key figure in the debate.
The measure was described in the document as a “tough, fair and practical road map.” Appearing on the Sunday morning shows there was surprising agreement between GOP and Democrats on the issue.
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice Education Fund, “It’s thrilling to see the calls for citizenship from across the political spectrum. While there’s still much to be worked out regarding the requirements and the timeline for those aspiring to be citizens, the debate has taken a clear shift from ‘is immigration reform going to happen’ to ‘what kind of path to citizenship will it include.’ As the dialogue continues to evolve over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to fight to ensure that a clear and simple path to full citizenship is the centerpiece of whatever legislation becomes law.”
Among the Sunday TV shows highlights:
According to a recap by ABC News “Two senators at the center of negotiations over comprehensive immigration reform, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said on Sunday that a pathway to citizenship is an essential component of a comprehensive reform bill.
‘That has to be also part of it,’ McCain told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz on ‘This Week’ when asked whether a pathway to citizenship would be a component of reform. ‘There’s a new appreciation on both sides of the aisle including, maybe more importantly on the Republican side of the aisle, that we have to enact comprehensive immigration reform.’…Menendez, who met with President Obama on Friday along with other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus leadership, said that the president expressed his full commitment to reform. ‘The president made it very clear in that discussion that this was a top legislative priority for him in this session of the Congress and that he expects to work with all of us in an effort to achieve that goal and he’s fully committed to it.’…On the politics of the issue, Menendez laid it out clearly: ‘First, Americans support it in poll after poll. Secondly, Latino voters expect it. Thirdly Democrats want it. And fourth Republicans need it,’ Menendez said.”
Also, on Fox News Sunday, Senator Dick Durbin, who is also one of the six Senators in the working group on immigration, said citizenship is a part of their plan. As reported by the Washington Post’s “The Fix” blog: “The Senate’s second-ranking Democrat said Sunday that a soon-to-be-introduced immigration reform measure will be a broad package that includes a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. ‘We are committed to a comprehensive approach,’ Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on ‘Fox News Sunday.’”
Read more: Lawmakers to press for driving licenses for illegals in Massachusetts
On NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) reiterated his support for Senator Marco Rubio’s set of principles on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this morning. According to a recap posted by NBC, “Ryan, who has praised a bipartisan set of immigration reforms offered by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, R, said he was cautiously optimistic about the prospects for immigration reform this year. But Ryan said that Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike would closely watch Obama's speech on Tuesday in Nevada on that topic.” While we welcome Ryan’s support for a pathway to legal status for the 11 million immigrants, the details behind Rubio’s plan remain unclear and the question of how long immigrants will have to wait in line for citizenship remains unanswered. When it comes to citizenship under Rubio’s proposal, the devil will be in the details.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.peterson | Feb 07, 2013, 01:02 PM EST
They had better close the border first or the illegals will overwhelm the authorities and try to take all the freebies !!
seanomelb | Feb 01, 2013, 01:48 AM EST
Wishful thinking by Flanagan
EphraimKibbey | Jan 29, 2013, 11:44 PM EST
jflanagan - Obviously you were listening to the Fox idiots instead of actually listening to the President today since he said he was pleased to see that the Senate plan was very much like his plan. Lets hope the House plan is also similar and then we can get on with the voting.
jflanagan | Jan 29, 2013, 08:33 PM EST
The President came out with his own "path to citizenship" which most Republicans and many Democrats will not support. Thus he has, in a selfish move, has probably derailed the bipartisan program introduced by Senator Schumer an the others.
seanomelb | Jan 29, 2013, 05:40 PM EST
Epraim the gophers below do not no what is actually happening as they watch the discredited Fox gop channel which fails to report any positive initiatives taken by Obama
EphraimKibbey | Jan 29, 2013, 12:32 PM EST
Because President Obama has quadrupled the security forces on the border, introduced innovative technology like drones and deported more criminals than any previous President, we now have a zero, YES ZERO, net flow of undocumented aliens into this country for the first time since it became a concern. The GOP likes to TALK about securing the border but (as with cutting spending and lowering the yearly deficit) it took a Democrat to DO something about it. Now it is time to look to our ports and actually start securing those massive gaps in our security.
Nicomax | Jan 29, 2013, 12:29 PM EST
We will soon hear the dreaded word 'amnesty', and say those who came here illegally deserve nothing but arrest and deportation. Amnesty is also heard from time to time as something awarded to tax evaders, who parked their funds in far-away places hoping the IRS would never find them. To correct the problem and get some dollars back into the treasury, we provide 'amnesty' to these law breakers and allow them to pay less tan they would have if they filed properly. But these are good people, not like those uneducated strawberry pickers, of pool cleaners.
EphraimKibbey | Jan 29, 2013, 12:20 PM EST
iriishgirl - How much work ethic do you think is required to pick vegetables and fruit at wages that are far below US minimum. How much work ethic does it take to plant trees and shrubs all day? How much work ethic does it take to sweat in a hot restaurant kitchen all day long for pennies. How much work ethic does it take to work three jobs just to feed your family? You are slandering those people that WE work the hardest, pay the least and offer the fewest benefits as having no work ethic. What can YOU say about the American citizens work ethic who will not do those jobs for any amount of money? Immigrants, both documented and undocumented, are the HARDEST working people in the country. Our country's economy would collapse without them.
cillowen | Jan 28, 2013, 09:45 PM EST
Repugs are getting lesson from DEMS
Mike7571 | Jan 28, 2013, 08:09 PM EST
This is a kick in the teeth to all of those who've come here legally. This is aiding and abeiting criminals. These politicians should be tried for this.
PhlutiePhan | Jan 28, 2013, 06:14 PM EST
I voted for McCain as a Navy vet. However, how many Hispanics voted for J Mac. Of those 11 million Big John, how many will vote Republican. I would say that it will be just like the black vote, 99.9% will vote for the marxists just because of the entitlements. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles should have been consulted.
seanomelb | Jan 28, 2013, 04:53 PM EST
It's good to see a bi-partisan approach,the GOP have reversed their immigrtion policy must to the chagrin of Irishgirl and the other racis posters.
Seanmor | Jan 28, 2013, 03:32 PM EST
I wish this kind of bipartisan support had existed in the mid-60s, when I wa discharged from 4 years of HONORABLE service in the Marine Corps, but such was not the casse. There was no easy path to citizenship for me or others veterans (including the one who served a year in Vietnam).I was photographed, finger printed and investigated for 6 weeks before my 'naturalization' was approved. Finally I was tested on U.S. history, government, the Constitution, including the Bill of rights - all these tests being in English.
seanfer7 | Jan 28, 2013, 03:17 PM EST
I think we stole Texas California Colorado N Mexico. The republicans no long call them wet back now its citizen
FastEddy | Jan 28, 2013, 12:55 PM EST
"... undocumented Irish could gain ..." ... Of course the democans and republicrats could promise you all the moon, too. Count on them? LOL, the meskins are the big voting block, so who gets the gravy?
Gaelicpiper | Jan 28, 2013, 12:31 PM EST
Well, DrMchugh-- You are from Chicago, that explains a lot. The illegal, criminal, aliens put themselves and their families in a position of fear by violation numerous laws. Their problem is not one to be solved by damaging the citizenship of law abiding citizens and legal immigrants. You just meay be too simple to grasp the abstract concept-- The Rule of Law? Well educated- no common sense.
Seanmor | Jan 28, 2013, 12:19 PM EST
As far as I'm concerned, there is a GREAT difference between a person who visits my home with my full knowledge and concent, but overstays hisd welcome, and someone who breaks in to my residence, helps himself and his other unvited frients to everything that is available and my expense, and makes no efford to learn my languiage. Even sightless people can distinguish between oranges and apples.
michaelidaho | Jan 28, 2013, 11:31 AM EST
Seanmor, There is no difference between the two groups you have described. In the former case, they were illegal once they entered the country. In the latter case, they were illegal once they overstayed their visa. In short, if their status is the same, then they should be treated the same.
DrMcHugh | Jan 28, 2013, 10:35 AM EST
This is wonderful news that both the Republican and Democratic leaders agree on a path to citizenship in an immigration bill for those who are in our country for a better future for themselves and for their children. As the daughter of Irish immigrants from County Mayo, Ireland, and as a physician who has cared for many legal and illegal immigrants from many countries in the Chicagoland area, I have seen how much love they have for their families, and how much hope they have for a better future for themselves and their children in this country. I have also seen the fear in the faces of these good children and adults of being torn from their families and deported because of our immigration laws. I am grateful to know that our Congress and our President are working toward a way for illegal immigrants to become citizens. This will bring more stability to the families of these good people. Sincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh, Chicago, Illinois
Seanmor | Jan 28, 2013, 09:41 AM EST
If give-away politicians gererously reward 12 million aliens for ILLEGALLY entering thru the Southern border, we can soon expect 20 or 30 more million million taking the same route- even if they dond speak a word of English- in the hopes of being rewarded in similar fashion. Besides, it is very unfair to those undocumented law-abiding English-speaking mmigrants who LEGALLY entered on visitors' visas and remained here at no cost to the U.S. taxpayers.
iriishgirl | Jan 28, 2013, 08:49 AM EST
I just hope that before they pass this legislation - they require those that apply to actually have jobs and a source of income. I would rather not see our taxes have to rise to support additional people with no work ethic.
Gaelicpiper | Jan 28, 2013, 08:30 AM EST
The useful fool politicians could not get an amnesty passed when the economy was good- they eill not get it passed now. The fools fail to realize that this country is not theire to give away. They have no right to devalue my citizenship. If, some how, they act as traitors and pass and amnesty- they do it at thier own risk.