Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Unpacking the Immigration Reform Proposal

Posted By on Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 2:31 PM

Talking Point Memo breaks down the path to citizenship and the new metrics of border security in the Gang of Eight's comprehensive immigration reform package. The takeaway:


After months of vague talking points about creating a “path to citizenship” versus a “special path to citizenship” versus “amnesty,” the Senate’s “Gang of 8” finally has an immigration bill ready. And, much to the relief of immigration advocates, there is a relatively clear and reliable process for today’s 11 million undocumented residents to eventually become citizens.

That’s good news for the immigrant rights community. But it also means the Republican members of the gang — Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), John McCain (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) — have a difficult path ahead convincing a skeptical party that these features are necessary to passing a final bill. Or as one immigration lawyer sympathetic to reform put it to TPM: “Rubio is going to get crucified for agreeing to this.”