Compromise among senators eyed on border security

June 19, 2013 @ 4:54 pm


People shout out against the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act in the hall outside the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. The committee in the Republican-led House is preparing to cast its first votes on immigration this year, on a tough enforcement-focused measure that Democrats and immigrant groups are protesting loudly. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) | Zoom

WASHINGTON (AP) - After secretive talks, key senators expressed optimism Wednesday night that they were closing in on a bipartisan agreement to toughen the border security requirements in immigration legislation that also offers a path to citizenship to millions living in the country illegally.

Under the emerging compromise, the government would grant legal status to immigrants living in the United States unlawfully at the same time the additional security was being put into place. Green cards, which signify permanent residency status, would be withheld until the security steps were complete.

If agreed to, the change has the potential to give a powerful boost to the immigration bill that is at the top of President Barack Obama's second-term domestic agenda.

The developments came as Democrats who met with House Speaker John Boehner during the day quoted him as saying he expects the House to pass its own version of an immigration bill this summer and for Congress to have a final compromise by year's end. Boehner, R-Ohio, has already said the legislation that goes to the House in the next month or two will not include a pathway to citizenship for those in the United States illegally.

Precise details of the pending agreement in the Senate were unavailable, although the legislation already envisions more border agents; additional fencing along the U.S-Mexico border; surveillance drones; a requirement for employers to verify the legal status of potential workers; as well as a biometric system to track foreigners who enter and leave the United States at air and seaports and by land.

"Our whole effort has been to build a bipartisan group that will support the bill," said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who has not yet stated a position on the legislation. "That's what this is all about, and it's focused on border security."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the bill's most prominent supporters, said discussions with Republicans "have been really productive. We've made a lot of progress in the last 24 hours. Now we have some vetting to do with our respective allies."

The potential compromise came into focus one day after the Congressional Budget Office jolted lawmakers with an estimate saying that as drafted, the legislation would fail to prevent a steady increase in the future in the number of residents living in the United States illegally.

The estimate appeared to give added credibility to Republicans who have been pressing Democrats to toughen the border security provisions already written into the bill. Schumer and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., met at midday with Hoeven, and Republican Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The Democrats and Graham are part of the so-called bipartisan Gang of Eight that drafted the bill.

If ratified, the compromise would mark concessions on both sides.

Some Republicans have been unwilling to support a bill that grants legal status to immigrants in the country illegally until the government certifies that the border security steps have achieved 90 percent effectiveness.

On the other hand, Democrats have opposed Republican proposals to make legalization contingent on success in closing the border to illegal crossings. Under the legislation as drafted, legalization could begin as soon as a security plan was drafted, but a 10-year wait is required for a green card.

One plan to change that was sidetracked during the day on a vote of 61-37.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said his proposal would require Congress to vote annually for five years on whether the border is secure. If lawmakers decide it is not, "then the processing of undocumented workers stops until" it is, he said. The decision would be made based on numerous factors, including progress toward completion of a double-layered fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and toward a goal of 95 percent capture of illegal entrants. A system to track the border comings and goings of foreigners is also required.

Only a day earlier, the CBO had cheered supporters of the bill with an estimate that it would help the economy and reduce deficits in each of the next two decades.

Now it was the skeptics' turn to crow.

"Illegality will not be stopped, but it will only be reduced by 25 percent," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., referring to the prediction by the non-partisan CBO.

While the public debate was taking place, lawmakers involved in the private talks expressed optimism.

"We're on the verge of doing something dramatic on the border," Graham told reporters. "What we're trying to do is put in place measures that to any reasonable person would be an overwhelming effort to secure our border. This is a key moment in the effort to pass the bill."

Across the Capitol, House Republican leaders sought to present a friendlier face to Hispanics _ a group that gave Obama more than 70 percent support in last year's presidential election.

Boehner met with the Democratic-dominated House Hispanic Caucus, while rank and file members of his party reviewed areas of agreement with faith-based Latino leaders.

"It's a conversation Republicans want to have," Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said later at a news conference outside the Capitol.

At the same time, though, anti-immigration protesters moved across the Capitol plaza into range of television cameras, raising signs that said, "Do Not Reward Criminals" and "No Amnesty for Illegal Aliens."

Separately, the House Judiciary Committee worked on legislation creating a program allowing farm workers to come to the United States to take temporary jobs in the United States.

The measure is one of several that the panel is considering in the final weeks of June as part of a piece-by-piece approach to immigration rather than the all-in-one bill that Senate is considering.

In addition to border security measures and a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the country illegally, the Senate bill provides more visas for highly-skilled workers prized by the technology industry, a guest worker farm program and a new program for lower-skilled workers to come to the United States.

___

Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (63)


  • Add A Comment

  • HLC wrote...
    What happened to JOBs.
    January 25, 2013 9:52 am
    Wasn't that Obozo the Fools number 1 priority? Never mind if his mouth is moving he's lieing or having another go with Carl.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    HLC
    January 28, 2013 6:00 am
    The same can be said about The GOP led house. They said their number one priority in 2010 was JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. What happened instead was wasted time passing bills on Sharia Law, making E Pluribus Unum our national motto, making Christianity our official religion and English the official language, and many other laws that had absolutely nothing to do jobs.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @wsualum
    March 30, 2013 7:26 am
    Don't forget the time they wasted passing 'tea party budgets' that they already knew were nothing more than symbolic acts of futility because they contained so little comprimise, so little for even the Republicans in the Senate to get onboard with that they had ZERO chances of passing. Oh - and don't forget the big dust up over light bulb standards - remember the big angry house republican waste of time (started by Bachman) where they angrily protested the 'government forcibly telling us what lightbulbs we could use'? When it turned out it was the House itself that had passed the very freaking law they were protesting? I think they spent 2 or 3 days whining about how they themselves had set those laws in place... and then ended up doing NOTHING whatsoever.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    Jobs? i thought it was about stripping million from health insurance
    May 21, 2013 12:01 pm
    that's why the House has wasted 50 million tax payer dollars holding 37 meaningless votes.

    Jobs?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @HLC
    March 30, 2013 7:29 am
    Haven't you learned yet that when you spend half of a posting spewing hate that you only look the idiot yourself and don't achieve anything against the object of your hate? And don't forget that the Republicans have spent ALL of thier time telling you how to hate Obama and blocking his every move instead of providing the jobs they claimed they were elected to create / the economy they claimed they were elected to fix. So, less hate, more facts please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @HLC
    April 22, 2013 1:11 pm
    What about the Repubs #1 priority (other than thier stated #1 of denying Obama a second term)???? JOBS JOBS JOBS - yet all they've done is complain about how wrong Obama is - as the economy has very slowly improved in many, many ways.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Jobs council
    January 25, 2013 1:44 pm
    hasn't met in over a year. Maybe Oprah knows what the he)) is going on.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 509 wrote...
    There are plenty of jobs that American's will NOT do....like
    January 27, 2013 1:36 pm
    roofer, carpenter, or anything that big business does not want to pay a living wage. However, more immigrants will reduce middle class wages even further. The elites know exactly what their doing, unfortunately, most American's never took economics in school and do not realize the impact of 20 million people in the workforce willing to work for slave wages. READ the history of the labor movement in the early 20th century....it's success was after limiting immigration.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    a living wage.
    January 29, 2013 10:40 am
    What is this? GIve me a definition...a number. You can't. It's just another leftie, commie lie meant to instill guilt on the productive and validate taking more from them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 509 wrote...
    Definition of a living wage....
    January 29, 2013 3:35 pm
    A working person should make more than a person able-bodied person on welfare. "Leftie, commie lie"....try a tea party conservative that is sick of the elites and corporations ripping off the American people through illegal immigration. Oh, I am a LEGAL immigrant. Took 12 years to get in....should I have swam the river prior to 87??
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    11 million are here illegally!!!!
    January 28, 2013 5:23 am
    who let that happen? DEPORT THEM!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Sick
    January 28, 2013 6:03 am
    Brilliant! How will this be done? What will the cost be? Do we have the facilities to hold all of them? The resources? Ready to pay more for goods and services, let alone watch the economy shut down. Read the studies, they provide more for this country than they take.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Easy
    January 28, 2013 9:37 am
    Quick giving them freebies, get rid of the anchor baby rule and go after businesses that hire them.

    they will leave in droves on the no more freebies alone.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    One more thing Make English the national language
    January 28, 2013 9:39 am
    That will save Billions right there. No more printing forms in 100 different languages, no more needing to teach classes in 100 different languages thus no need for interpreters. If you need one bring your own.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    wsualumn
    January 30, 2013 5:26 am
    they provide more births....seriously all the wic, housing, food stamps, free programs, dream act, cell phones, health care....a one way ticket back to their country would be cheaper...what are you talking about? I am not suggesting holding them anywhere.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    I have to agre with SickofSeattle.....
    March 29, 2013 11:57 am
    your argument to do nothing is "it's too hard", and "it will cost too much". The fact is, we will save billions of dollars if we aren't supporting illegal aliens (by giving them tuition, medical benefits, welfare, etc..).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    WSUALUM?
    April 30, 2013 11:26 am
    You must be referenceing a liberal funded study. Only a blind retard can look at our situation and thinks that illegals give more than they take? ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @sickofseattleite
    March 29, 2013 7:14 pm
    "11 million are here illegally!!!! who let that happen?" --- How about those wonderful 'job creators' that illegally hired them? you know - the folks who's jobs brought them across the border over the last 40 years and the republicans and democrats that didn't do anything about it over those same years? That's WHY they're here. Or would you rather take the simpleton's way out and blame Obama?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    Obozo will like the immigration law.
    January 29, 2013 10:08 am
    After the fool gets rid of every part the republicans want. It may require his relatives to come out of the shadows.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Give us your poor...your huddled masses...
    January 29, 2013 10:38 am
    yearning to take advantage of hard working Americans and vote "D".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Quick giving them freebies, get rid of the anchor baby rule and go after businesses that hire them.
    January 29, 2013 10:42 am
    Bingo. Calif just began shutting down illegal baby birthing motels. The anchor baby loophole needs to be closed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @HPD 5-0
    January 29, 2013 11:32 am
    I want to thank you for your attitude. That is exactly the attitude that leads toward extinction for conservatives. Keep it up!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    Conservatives are....
    March 29, 2013 12:00 pm
    the remaining few who love America, and want it to prosper. Back in the day, those who work hard and achieve, reap the reward of the good life. Now, they are punished and forced to pay for the losers......
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    love America?
    May 21, 2013 12:04 pm
    by wasting it's money and blocking all legislation? They love their money and power, they do not love America. That's why they don't bank here.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    Repbulicans are already losing because they wont stand up to Obama
    January 30, 2013 5:24 am
    and the overspending dumbocrats ruining our country! At this point what have they got to loose? While the dumbocrats let Americans who earn everything loose everything to everyone else who does nothing. Stand up Republicans and take back our country! Stop this madness! Stop this reckless spending! Enforce the laws they are breaking! What the dumbocrats are doing to our country is an embarrassing OUTRAGE!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pair o'dimes wrote...
    Whose country?
    February 8, 2013 11:29 am
    I'm always amused by the "take back our country" line. I have heard it used by whatever faction happens to not be in power, both republican and democrat, and I always wonder what they have in mind. Since we regularly have elections in our country, it would seem the real issue for the losers is winning a majority, and last time I checked it requires creating a platform and putting forth candidates that will appeal to the most voters. Or does the "take back" statement imply some other means of gaining power? Armed takeover? The other thing I wonder about is what is meant by "our country"? So the party in power aren't citizens? The people who voted for them weren't citizens either? Or are there not enough landowners among them? Or is it a matter of longevity? If they are relative newcomers to the U.S. does that mean they not rightful owners of "our country"? Oh wait...we have to give the country back to the native Americans!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    I realize CH you are only familiar with demo types bounceing off your chin.
    February 7, 2013 11:56 am
    The republicans typically have any use for that lifestyle choice that you have made.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    Part of the charm
    February 8, 2013 2:06 pm
    of the Republican backed parts of the current iteration of reform is that it creates a self selection between those illegals who actually want to be participants in our culture and those just here for handouts. The immigration activists quoted in the story appear to be representatives of the very much unwanted handout seeking illegals.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }