Home Page > News > Senator Chuck Schumer to lead new effort at immigration reform

Blogs

42 Comments

Larger Text

E-mail

Senator Chuck Schumer to lead new effort at immigration reform

Niall O'Dowd

IrishCentral.com Founding Publisher

Published Monday, January 4, 2010, 7:34 AM

Updated Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 4:16 PM

Senator Chuck Schumer

News / Hispanic Caucus playing hardball on immigration reform / Click here

A major effort to swing at least five key Republican senators behind immigration reform will be the key task of Senator Charles Schumer of New York, who is leading the effort in the senate to create new legislation.

Tens of thousands of Irish undocumented are among those anxiously awaiting new efforts this year to bring about reform. The last effort to create a bill, called the Kennedy/McCain immigration bill failed when Republicans refused to support it.

However, the new bill, which Senator Schumer and aides to President Obama are working on, will have strong enforcement measures in it in addition to a plan to legalize those here illegally.

President Obama has given a commitment to take up the issue soon after his health care reform bill passes, as is generally expected.

Schumer is counting on Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, who has indicated that he will support a new bill that has strong enforcement measures and ensures that illegal immigration will be much harder after the bill passes.

"Schumer wants to show that legalizing the undocumented is actually good national security policy, as well as making it clear that it will become much harder for new illegals to work here if the new bill is passed" said a source.

Hispanic groups who have major clout with this White House are concerned that the proposed bill leans too far in the enforcement direction.

Among other senators on the Republican side that Schumer hopes will be reachable are Senators Olympia Snow and Susan Collins in Maine, Senator George Voinovich in Ohio and Senator John McCain of Arizona, who sponsored legislation before.

A House bill has already been introduced by Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, a close supporter of President Obama.

Vote now - Buzz this story up!

E-mail

Most recent of 42 comments - See all comments

It may take several minutes for your comment to appear.

Report abuse

Posted by vzesati on Jan 12, 2010, 01:15 PM EST

Every time you go and present a plea, remember I'm praying for you all the God will give grace to speak to promete a imigration reform. Pastor Victor Zessati

Report abuse

Posted by REM1875 on Jan 11, 2010, 02:34 PM EST

Ahhh and sure as the sky is green and the grass is blue don't ya just know that old chuckie schumer (that shining pillar of honesty and morality) is worried and concerned about the well being of 50,000 illegal Irish aliens, just like when billy clinton was moved to do something about illegal aliens and went after the Polish and the Irish. The Irish don't vote in a block anymore and many have started to think on their own and are no longer mandatory Democrats so they are no longer beholding to us. We did what the majority of the new immigrants refuse to do -we integrated and became American- too damned well.

Report abuse

Posted by plasticpaddy on Jan 08, 2010, 02:12 PM EST

Also, I am Irish, not American - and a full supporter of rights for the undocumented

Report abuse

Posted by plasticpaddy on Jan 08, 2010, 02:11 PM EST

I appreciate the apology Maghnus but would like to make a suggestion, instead of insulting me by saying crawl under a rock, why not make a logical point and argue, respectfully, with what I have posted. I would gladly settle for some of that.

Report abuse

Posted by plasticpaddy on Jan 08, 2010, 02:10 PM EST

What you say about Sotomayor is simple laughable to anyone who has made the slightest effort to look into your claims surrounding La Raza. Simply laughable.

Report abuse

Posted by plasticpaddy on Jan 08, 2010, 02:08 PM EST

the legal process you speak of does not exist unless you already have thousands of dollars and unless an American company can prove there is not an American to do the job (an impossibility in and of itself). the silliness of the current system makes it hypocritical and unjust to criticise those trying to better their lives, who would willingly come here legally were that option available.

See all of 42 comments.

Click to learn more from DiscoverIreland.com.

MEET SOMEONE SPECIAL!

FREE TO JOIN: IrishCentralPersonals.com now offers the best place to find the lad or lass of your dreams! Meet your Irish love today! RIGHT HERE! >

MOST READ
MOST E-MAILED

Most Recent Blog Posts

See All Blogs

Join us - follow IrishCentral.com

Click here to read more about IrishCentral.com.

About Us

IrishCentral is the website about everything Irish for everyone Irish -- the 70 million people around the world who trace their roots to the Emerald Isle.

You'll find the most-fascinating stories from the United States, Ireland and the global Irish world, including the latest in news, entertainment, celebrity gossip, travel and vacations, sports, food and drink, Irish ancestry and genealogy, immigration, religion, business and opinion. (close)