House Republican leaders to outline broad immigration principles, focus on legalization | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

House Republican leaders to outline broad immigration principles, focus on legalization

WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders plan to outline broad immigration principles, including legalization for the 11 million immigrants living here illegally, to the Republican Party rank and file as they look to revive long-stalled efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration system.

Republican Speaker John Boehner and other House Republican leaders will measure the willingness of party members to tackle immigration in a midterm election year when they unveil the principles Thursday at the party caucus' annual retreat in Cambridge, Md.

The statement of principles was expected to focus on border and interior security, legalization with the requirement that immigrants pay fines and back taxes, and ensuring that President Barack Obama enforces any law, according to lawmakers, congressional aides and outside advocates familiar with the draft.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the principles.

"We're going to outline our standards, principles of immigration reform and have a conversation with our members, and once that conversation's over we'll have a better feel for what members have in mind," Boehner told reporters this week.

Boehner faces strong opposition from several conservatives who fear that legislation will lead to citizenship for people who broke U.S. immigration laws, are suspicious of Obama and his enforcement of any law and are reluctant to give the president a long-sought legislative victory.

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, delivered a 30-page package to all 232 House Republicans on Wednesday that offered a point-by-point rebuttal to the expected principles.

Sessions warned of the negative impact of proposed changes in immigration policy on U.S. workers, taxpayers and the rule of law as the House leaders look at legalization for some of the 11 million immigrants living here illegally. Sessions and other opponents argue that legal status and work authorization amounts to amnesty and serves as a path to citizenship.

Responding to Obama's renewed call for immigration legislation and the positive signals from House Republican leaders, Sessions said Republicans "must end the lawlessness — not surrender to it — and they must defend the legitimate interests of millions of struggling American workers."

Separately, several lawmakers were working on legislation dealing with children of parents in the United States illegally and visas for guest workers.

Republicans insist that the party must pass reforms and address the issue of those in the country illegally to be competitive in presidential elections. In 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who suggested that immigrants "self-deport," won just 27 per cent of the Hispanic vote.

"It's no secret we have millions of people who are here, who are unlawful and we can't deny that, and I think that's something that has to be dealt with," said Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who has been working on legislation. "But a lot of components have to be dealt with."

The Senate last year passed a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that addressed border security, provided enforcement measures and offered a path to citizenship for those living here illegally. The measure stalled in the GOP-led House, where leaders want to take a more piecemeal approach.

Sessions' analysis said increasing the number of immigrants would hurt an already weak economy, lower wages and increase unemployment. He cited White House adviser Gene Sperling's comment earlier this month that the economy has three people looking for every job opening.

He said the House Republican leaders' plan that's taking shape would grant work permits almost immediately to those here illegally, giving them a chance to compete with unemployed Americans for any job. He said it would lead to a surge in the future flow of unskilled workers and would provide amnesty to a larger number of immigrants in the country illegally, giving them a chance to apply for citizenship through green cards.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of Sessions' critique.

Notably, two members of the House leadership, Boehner and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, spoke about dealing with the broken immigration system in their responses to Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday. Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters Wednesday that she spoke to Boehner about the principles but not specific legislation.

"I believe it is a good-faith effort to find common ground, and we look forward to seeing what they are," Pelosi said.

Diaz-Balart expressed cautious optimism, putting the odds of House action on immigration at 30 per cent, up from 5 per cent earlier.

News from © The Associated Press, 2014
The Associated Press

  • Popular vernon News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile