Discussion On The Politics of Immigration Reform (Comprehensive Or Otherwise)

[rupen86]

My last on this one too. It's ok to draw line between legal - illegal - but not to the extent where one immigrant group starts fighting other one which is exactly what anti-immigrants want.

If we allow legal vs illegal then tomorrow there will be EB2 vs EB3 and India vs ROW and all kinds of differences come up. So - be patient, be respectful and work unitedly towards everybody's well being. That's all I wanted to convey.

I could not resist commenting on this one. Whether we like it or not, there are already divisions like this. With HR 3012, it was ROW vs I/C. There is already EB2 vs EB3. And there is illegal vs legal. When one sees that he/she followed all the rules but is neglected by the system vs the one who did not follow the rule but is getting preferential treatment, it is going to create resentment among those who followed the rule and then there would be incentive to actually break the rule. But for our purpose, it does not help us to bash illegals because we are on their mercy to get this done in current political environment.

[rupen86]

Reid seems optimistic.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...-congress.html

Yes, unless the killer amendments are added, this has pretty good chance of passing senate and pressure would be on house to get it done. Time is of essence. It should be done before congress recess.

[rupen86]

Rubio's immigration effort

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/m...-election.html

[abcx13]

Yes, unless the killer amendments are added, this has pretty good chance of passing senate and pressure would be on house to get it done. Time is of essence. It should be done before congress recess.

I'm kind of assuming it will pass the Senate easily. The House is where it might face issues.

[rupen86]

Reid says same-sex couples should be included in the bill.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/...-include-prote

I think he is making contentious bill even more contentious. It is hard to know what are people's intentions. May be he wants to make it so hard that republicans are forced to reject it.

[qbloguser]

I agree and in fact when this reform is done I am planning to stand outside home depot and thank first 10 of my (used to be) illegal friends.

P.S.-> I am legal EB2 I.

But for our purpose, it does not help us to bash illegals because we are on their mercy to get this done in current political environment.

[qesehmk]

This will nothing but increase resistance to the bill because then the anti gay marriage folks join anti immigrants.

Makes you wonder if Reid really wants to see this bill succeed?

Reid says same-sex couples should be included in the bill.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/...-include-prote

I think he is making contentious bill even more contentious. It is hard to know what are people's intentions. May be he wants to make it so hard that republicans are forced to reject it.

[rupen86]

House is in the process of drafting the bill and actually is ahead in the process than senate !!

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/28...form-agreement

[rupen86]

More action coming this week on immigration.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...9130V620130204

[kd2008]

Puneet Arora ----- is going to testify tomorrow at the House Judiciary hearing. Here is his statement:
http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/...2002052013.pdf

please see this as an important testimony in our favor.

[Pundit Arjun]

KD, Thanks for the info on the hearing - Hope all goes well.
But surprised to hear your comment regarding the swipes at the I V folks.You know the history .

Puneet Arora of I V is going to testify tomorrow at the House Judiciary hearing. Here is his statement:
http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/...2002052013.pdf

In the interest of keeping this discussion moving forward I would kindly request everyone to please refrain from taking swipes at I V or Puneet (It has been done to death on this website) and please see this as an important testimony in our favor.

[pakkpk]

http://www.sessions.senate.gov/publi...b-456475b7eb44

[gcq]

This will nothing but increase resistance to the bill because then the anti gay marriage folks join anti immigrants.

Makes you wonder if Reid really wants to see this bill succeed?

Gay community has a powerful lobby. That is the reason Obama recently acknowledged the need for same-sex marriage though he is not a fan of it.
It is all about vote bank and lobbying. On a big bill like CIR, senate can always force a cloture.

My only concern is whether we will become the bargaining chip for another powerful lobby.

[tackle]

Live feed here: http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN3/

[qesehmk]

Thanks Tackle. Vivek Wadhwa is Fascinating!

Live feed here: http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN3/

[rupen86]

Gay community has a powerful lobby. That is the reason Obama recently acknowledged the need for same-sex marriage though he is not a fan of it.
It is all about vote bank and lobbying. On a big bill like CIR, senate can always force a cloture.

My only concern is whether we will become the bargaining chip for another powerful lobby.

We are always a bargain chip. That's not much of a concern. Real concern would be whether they would risk the whole bill for this.

[rupen86]

Another contentious point. Family based immigration. Republicans think that family based green cards should be reduced whereas democrats want more of them.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-bl...gration-reform

[rupen86]

Another contentious point. Family based immigration. Republicans think that family based green cards should be reduced whereas democrats want more of them.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-bl...gration-reform

And seems fight has already started on this.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...ef=mostpopular

[rupen86]

Labrador working as counterpart of Rubio in house and is part of the gang working on legislation in house. Seems like house version would provide legal status to undocumented but not the citizenship. That I feel is going to be deal breaker.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...2e2_story.html

[gs1968]

An update from today's House hearing

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-va...killed-workers

[gcq]

Interesting
when Dr Arora was speaking, Steve King from Iowa can be seen playing with his phone !

[pakkpk]

I watched complete hearing. It is going to be a battle for path to citizenship for undocumented on the house side and if there is no common ground, high-skilled immigration have to suffer. Same story is repeating from 112th Congress when H.R. 3012 was stuck in Senate. The same arguments were put forward by dems.

An update from today's House hearing

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-va...killed-workers

[rupen86]

I watched complete hearing. It is going to be a battle for path to citizenship for undocumented on the house side and if there is no common ground, high-skilled immigration have to suffer. Same story is repeating from 112th Congress when H.R. 3012 was stuck in Senate. The same arguments were put forward by dems.

Yes, it is coming out now that HR 3012 was not passed by senate because democrats wanted to hold that for CIR and not because Grassley put hold on it. Same thing is going to happen to any EB bill. There is no hope about standalone bill as that has been made clear by the democrats and Obama.

For CIR, path does not look easy. In senate, it may pass but it is going to face tough time in house. It is up to Boehner on what strategy he applies. House might come up with the bill which most likely would not give citizenship and only legal status. That bill will not pass senate. Now, if Boehner allows senate bill for a vote, it may pass with majority of democrats and few republicans but not sure whether he would actually do that when house has its own bill. I feel it would have been better if there was no house bill and instead it was just going to consider senate bill.

[gcq]

Native American Shuts Down Anti-Illegal Immigrant Protest: ‘Y’all Are All Illegal!!!’

[rupen86]

I watched complete hearing. It is going to be a battle for path to citizenship for undocumented on the house side and if there is no common ground, high-skilled immigration have to suffer. Same story is repeating from 112th Congress when H.R. 3012 was stuck in Senate. The same arguments were put forward by dems.

I also watched the entire hearing. It does look like, house bill is not going to include citizenship. I do not how this difference between house and senate is going to be resolved.