Immigration proposal a "major breakthrough," senators say

A group of bipartisan senators formally unveiled their framework for comprehensive immigration reform today, saying they are more optimistic than they have been in years for the chance of passing such legislation.

"We have come together on a set of bipartisan principles for comprehensive immigration reforms that we hope can pass the Senate in an overwhelming and bipartisan fashion," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said today in a press conference. "We still have a long way to go, [but] this bipartisan blueprint is a major breakthrough."

The plan, crafted by four Republicans and four Democrats, is comprised of four elements: creating a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants (contingent upon securing the nation's borders first), reforming the legal immigration system, establishing an effective employment verification system, and creating an improved process for admitting into the U.S. valuable workers.

• Is now the time for immigration reform?
• Key senators agree on sweeping immigration reform

While the plan is so far just a blueprint, Schumer said the working group hopes to have actual legislation drafted by March, with the goal of passing it by late spring or summer. Schumer said he spoke with President Obama yesterday about the plan, and "he couldn't be more pleased."

Play Video

Schumer praises McCain as "the glue" in bipartisan immigration push

If the Senate's plan falls apart, Mr. Obama will be ready to step in with his own legislative outline, administration officials tell CBS News.

Mr. Obama will lay out his vision for immigration reform tomorrow in Las Vegas -- a vision he laid out in a major immigration speech in El Paso, Texas in May 2011. The blueprint introduced by the "group of eight" in the Senate is, in fact, very similar to the president's plan.

While the group of eight senators involved in crafting this blueprint includes some who have worked on immigration reform for years -- such as Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and John McCain, R-Ariz. -- it also includes some noteworthy newcomers. The inclusion of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who joined the Senate in 2010 with tea party support, illustrates the new interest from Republicans in pursuing the issue.

Rubio today acknowledged the concerns over the issue from both sides of the aisle.

"There are people concerned about how much this is going to cost the American economy," he said. "By the same token, [people on the other side] have to be honest about how important immigration is to the economy."

Hurdles, of course, remain: Immigration is a low priority for voters, and there are a number of Republicans still opposed to "amnesty." Still, Schumer argued today that there is now more political risk in opposing immigration reform than in supporting it.

"Other bipartisan groups of senators have stood in the same spot before, trumpeting similar proposals, but we believe this will be the year Congress finally gets it done," he said. "The politics on this issue has been turned upside down."

Play Video

Borders now "more secure than they have ever been," Carney says

Senators from both parties made a point of showing good will to those across the aisle. Schumer said McCain has been "the glue in our group," while McCain said any progress made this year will stand as a testimonial to the groundwork laid by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., added, "I just get the sense of a spirit and commitment that is far beyond what I've seen for some time."

McCain acknowledged that the Republican Party is losing the support of Latino voters, an increasingly important voting bloc, and that immigration "is a preeminent issue with those citizens."

The most politically challenging element of the plan will be creating a pathway to citizenship that both Democrats and Republicans can support. McCain said members of both parties are realizing "we cannot continue as a nation with 11 million residents in the shadows."

[qualitymatters2]

We are being over run. It's my belief that the 11 million figure is just the tip of the iceburg. How many....not sure. Just everywhere you go and everywhere you look...there they are. It's just not beleivable.

[JeffersonDarcy]

If you against any kind of Amnesty, go to this website and register.
Google this: NUMBERSUSA .
Once you are registered, go to the "action board" to send free faxes to your state representative.
They are all typed up and ready to go, you just need to click your mouse to send.

[Tango8050]

Secure the border.
Shoot trespassers.
Ship the criminals home.
. . Problem solved.

Path to citizenship?? . . back across the Rio Grande, apply for a visa,
- and wait.

[hypnotoad72]

McCain and immigration - let's not forget history:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/14/sen-mccain-and-illegal-immigration/

http://www.usnews.com/news/campaign-2008/articles/2008/03/17/where-clinton-obama-and-mccain-stand-on-immigration
(and if you read between the lines of those three, get through the treacle, they're all effectively spouting the same bamboozling. And here's why:

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/hiring-illegal-immigrants.html

)

[Housessmart]

POLITICIANS LIED IN 1986, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK ANYTHING HAS CHANGED?

Both major political parties are ready to betray the larger mass of the American people. Tuesday the President flies to Nevada in hopes of gaining momentum among the largest populations for illegal alien Path to Citizenship in the Southwest, other than the liberal State of California. The last Path to Citizenship was a harvest for around 6 million illegal aliens, when the real numbers applying for amnesty should have been 3.5 million. Those who don't have a recollection of the 1986 Amnesty wouldn't know about the concealed fraud that resonates even today. You can only evaluate as one of the greatest conspiracies ever played on THE PEOPLE, other than the 1946 Roswell, New Mexico UFO crash incident. To many government mistakes in this issue, caused by interference from business lobbyists who favors stopped the auditing and detection of unauthorized workers in jobs across America.

Nobody can convince me that there were no irregularities in the presidential election. Every day I read the commentary and blogs in both the Liberal Democratic oriented press and the Conservative side, and there are far more negative replies about the coming potential mass amnesty. Thousands of commentaries give evidence that the American people are worried and intensely angry. The only conclusion I can come to, is that the majority of media polls of whose for—whose against Pathway to Citizenship, other than Rusmussen polls are fixed? That the Republicans who would bow down to Liberal agenda with their tails between their legs and not stand for the principles of the founding fathers? So you have to wonder about the truth that 70 percent of the population voted for Obama? I am sure those who have unceasing relished something for nothing, of which this government is offering voted for the man, but I cannot accept that election was without fraud in many of the Liberal states, where there was no citizenship check?

Now we must face exorbitant taxes to pay for the silent illegal immigration invasion, the conversion to citizenship and the children given instant citizenship and the unholy cost demanded of the American taxpayer to cover all the bills, which has been spread equally over the country for decades. Years of complete incompetence and unconcern proved by both parties for not implementing illegal entry as a felony? OR WAS IT? There has been failure after failure to stop the incomings from across borders or entry at international flights. All they cared about was the unresisting political power grab and now because borders remain poorly guarded and interior enforcement has all but been non-essential, the population of illegal aliens has grown out of proportion. We deserve what we get in the gutless halls of the Senate and House. ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO DEFEND US COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THE 23 MILLION AMERICAN WITHOUT WORK, UNDEREMPLOYED OR GIVEN UP ALTOGETHER? WHAT MADNESS IS THIS?

We have all been assured that Obamacare will not be health insurance for illegal aliens, but mark my words once legitimized they will apply and get into the system and will get a waiver, because they are low income and taxpayers will financially support that as well. Go to any Walmart and see foreign speakers with six kids running the children's welfare food stamp or credit card through the machine, and the counter piled with food. Yet our own low income American must beg for food at charitable churches or food banks. Awarding people who just adamantly ignored our laws is just asking for more trouble. It's a big lie about paying back taxes, as they were waved during the Reagan/ Kennedy Amnesty, same with learning the English language and the so called fine, which was another waiver, as most of the illegal migrants and illegal immigrants couldn't pay? In conclusion so many criminals fell through the bureaucratic tangle, essential background checks were never carried out.

Before you make any decision, you should note that just Los Angeles County, CA has to dig up $1.3 Billion annually for the families of illegal aliens.

Today you can stand back and twiddle your thumbs or you can fight back against unfair taxes to pay for pandering to illegal migrants and immigrants. Last day to make these degenerate lawmakers listen to you, by going to the government pages of your telephone book or you may phone the United States Capitol switchboard at [phone]. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office or the Congressional House Representatives. DO IT NOW! HEED MY WARNING. OUR TAXES MUST GO UP IN CATERING TO THE NEXT TIDE OF ILLEGAL ALIENS, ENCOURAGED TO GET INTO AMERICA AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS.

[fastdraw2]

It's kind of funny to watch CNN and everyone else jump all over this while all the while knowing the Islamic Tea Partiers in the House will never let it happen. Oh well, guess they gotta make a buck.

[ammo17]

12 million illegals invade our country,what do our politicians do?they raise their arms and surrender to get 12 million votes.it is that simple and that disgraceful.

[jeannutson]

There must be a provision for the deportation of illegal residents who add nothing to the growth of the economy and productivity such must be regarded as parasites to the scarce national resources and potential criminals.

[hypnotoad72]

Thank you, Outback_Jackson.

I may be a cynic, but I enjoy reading accurate numbers.


And, Jeannutson,

They aren't parasites. They're valuable...

At least to big ag, who in turn can drive down wages and solely to "increase the bottom line". Of course, if this means your wages go down, you might be more inclined to blame the symptom (illegals) than the cause (corporations illegally using and extorting these people illegally.)

Let's see congress and the media talk about the WHOLE of the issue. For a change.

[ak-fwong73]

1.Illegal immigrant lived in US without children living in US before 2013 has job with reference letter from US citizen employer should grant working permit.
2.Illegal immigrant with or without children live in US before 2013 has established business and hiring at lease one US citizen with the recommendation letter from employee will grant immigrant status to him or her and spouse and children born outside US but living in US and citizenship to children born in US .
3. Illegal immigrant living in US married to US citizen before 2013 , with or without children grant immigrant status to him or her and children.
4. Illegal immigrant who has job with children living in US before 2013, grant working permit to the parent and citizenship to the US born children, immigrant status to non US born children, living in US.
5. Illegal immigrant with children living in US before 2013, without job has certain amount of asset over liability exist certain amount in US grand immigrant status to parent and children born outside US and citizenship to children born in US.
6.Illegal immigrant with children living in US before 2013 without job and asset over liability less than certain amount grand him or her work seeking permit and children born in US citizenship, children born outside US but living in US immigrant status.
7.All working permit holder worked in US for certain years can apply for US immigrant status within US.
8. All illegal immigrant will be deported.

[hypnotoad72]

Based on your lack of grammatical acuity, are you an illegal immigrant?

[Social_Adjudicator]

The Communist Politicians esp. at the Federal level of Government have been pandering to the vote and selling out the United States of America for years. So much damage to this country's "Constitution" has been done as a result of such activity; from which will take years to repair to restore the integrity of this once great Nation. It's time to identify the individuals who have managed to exploit and pervert the laws of this country for their own personal gain; at the expense of the whole and deal with them accordingly. "We the People" are a civil people and will employ the due process of the law, but need to do so with a sense of urgency and in an expeditious manner. Enough is enough.

[hypnotoad72]

Except our politicians are bought and paid-for by private industry.

If the irony of your response hasn't sunk in yet, then it may never will.

But the biggest "communists" are the corporations doing the buying.

Now look up "Corporatism" for a more accurate description of what's going on, who coined it, and when...