Current Events > Democrats start reining in expectations for immigration bill

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https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-start-reining-expectations-immigration-053108388.html

WASHINGTON (AP) It's taken only days for Democrats gauging how far President Joe Biden's bold immigration proposal can go in Congress to acknowledge that if anything emerges, it will likely be significantly more modest.

As they brace to tackle a politically flammable issue that's resisted major congressional action since the 1980s, Democrats are using words like aspirational to describe Biden's plan and herculean to express the effort they'll need to prevail.

A cautious note came from the White House on Friday when press secretary Jen Psaki said the new administration views Biden's plan as a first step it hopes will be the basis" of discussions in Congress. Democrats' measured tones underscore the fragile road they face on a paramount issue for their minority voters, progressives and activists.

Immigration proponents advocating an all-out fight say Democrats' new hold on the White House and Congress provides a major edge, but they concede they may have to accept less than total victory. Paving a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally, the centerpiece of Biden's plan, is the stake at the summit of the mountain, Frank Sharry, executive director of the pro-immigration group Americas Voice, said in an interview. He said proponents may have to accept stepping stones" along the way.

The citizenship process in Biden's plan would take as little as three years for some people, eight years for others. It would make it easier for certain workers to stay in the U.S. temporarily or permanently, provide development aid to Central American nations in hopes of reducing immigration and move toward bolstering border screening technology.

No. 2 Senate Democratic leader Richard Durbin of Illinois said in an interview this week that the likeliest package to emerge would start with creating a path to citizenship for so-called Dreamers. They are over 1 million immigrants whove lived in the U.S. most of their lives after being brought here illegally as children.

Over 600,000 of them have temporary permission to live in the U.S. under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Former President Barack Obama created that program administratively, and Durbin and others want to protect it by enacting it into law.

Durbin, who called Biden's plan aspirational, said he'll push for as many other elements as possible, including more visas for agricultural workers and others.

We understand the political reality of a 50-50 Senate, that any changes in immigration will require cooperation between the parties, said Durbin, who is on track to become Senate Judiciary Committee chairman. He said Senate legislation likely will not reach the same levels as Bidens proposal.

The Senate is split evenly between the two parties, with Vice President Kamala Harris tipping the chamber to Democrats with her tie-breaking vote. Even so, passing major legislation requires 60 votes to overcome filibusters, or endless procedural delays. That means 10 Republicans must join all 50 Democrats to enact an immigration measure, a tall order.

Passing immigration reform through the Senate, particularly, is a herculean task, said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who will also play a lead role in the battle. He said Democrats will get it done but the effort will require negotiation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who's worked with Democrats on past immigration efforts, said comprehensive immigration is going to be a tough sale this year.

I think the space in a 50-50 Senate will be some kind of DACA deal, he said.

Illustrating the bargaining ahead, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate whos sought earlier immigration compromises, praised parts of Biden's plan but said she wants changes including more visas for the foreign workers her state's tourism industry uses heavily.

Democrats' hurdles are formidable.

They have razor-thin majorities in a House and Senate where Republican support for easing immigration restrictions is usually scant. Acrid partisan relationships were intensified by former President Donald Trump's clamorous tenure. Biden will have to spend plenty of political capital and time on earlier, higher priority bills battling the pandemic and bolstering the economy, leaving his future clout uncertain.

Democrats also must resolve tactical differences.

Sharry said immigration groups prefer Democrats push for the strongest possible bill without concessions to Republicans' demands like boosting border security spending. He said hopes for a bipartisan breakthrough are a fools errand because the GOP has largely opposed immigration overhauls for so long.

But prevailing without GOP votes would mean virtual unanimity among congressional Democrats, a huge challenge. It would also mean Democrats would have to eliminate the Senate filibuster, which they may not have the votes to do, or concoct other procedural routes around the 60-vote hurdle.

I'm going to start negotiating" with Republicans, said Durbin. He said a bipartisan bill would be better if we can do it" because it would improve chances for passage.

Democrats already face attacks from Republicans, eyeing next year's elections, on an issue that helped power Trump's 2016 victory by fortifying his support from many white voters.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Bidens proposal would prioritize help for illegal immigrants and not our fellow citizens. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who heads the Senate Republican campaign committee, said the measure would hurt hard-working Americans and the millions of immigrants working their way through the legal immigration process."...
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Hmm

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this seems relevant, for some reason...

Across issues, Republicans are in favor of bad things happening and against good things. Therefore, you are only shooting yourself in the foot by working with them. It's really that simple and the Dems should act accordingly.

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Shut the fuck up SMAL

Questionmarktarius posted...

this seems relevant, for some reason...

Biden is center-right. That has fuck-all to do with "horseshoe theory"

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RebelElite791 posted...

Biden is center-right. That has fuck-all to do with "horseshoe theory"

Antifar posted...

Hmm

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bump
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Oh my fucking christ, act like you won the goddamn election.

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This is what happens when you elect the "lesser of two evils", as CE put it, in the primaries.

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Pretending to not understand how congress works to shitpost on a dead gaming forum.


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bump.
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pogo_rabid posted...

This is what happens when you elect the "lesser of two evils", as CE put it, in the primaries.

yeah I am sure wed be better under a second trump term lmao

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SPE posted...

I am sure wed be better under a second trump term

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Get used to a lot of Democrats start reigning in expectations for headlines

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For everyone whining about this

What is your suggestion for how to pass immigration reform?

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Questionmarktarius posted...

this seems relevant, for some reason...

It is in no way relevant. A very good comprehensive immigration reformation can't be passed without getting at least 10 Republicans to sign off on it. And you can't get them to sign off on it without compromising. That has nothing to do with horseshoe theory and everything to do with how bills are passed.

Do you have any constructive ideas on how to make that happen? Unless you think the shortsighted idea of blowing up the fillibuster on this is the solution.

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Mr_Rian posted...

Do you have any constructive ideas on how to make that happen?

Open up Affidavit of Support to everyone, for anyone.
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/affidavit-of-support

Topic creator is suspendies
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As expected.

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Machete posted...

Topic creator is suspendies

Yeah, okay, I have no idea who TC is.
Did we all fall for an obvious bait thread again?

What the hell, I thought there weren't any Republicans in Congress anymore!

Questionmarktarius posted...

Yeah, okay, I have no idea who TC is.
Did we all fall for an obvious bait thread again?

Dude's a right wing shitposting alt.

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Questionmarktarius posted...

Open up Affidavit of Support to everyone, for anyone.
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/affidavit-of-support

Despite the fact that this wouldn't work for everybody, that doesn't explain how you get the votes, which is what the subject of my post was. How do you convince people to vote for your proposals without compromising?

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