ImmigrationComprehensive bipartisan immigration reform bill to be unveiled early April
The Gang of 8, a bipartisan group of senators, is finalizing work on a comprehensive immigration reform bill which will be introduced shortly after Congress comes back 8 April. The bill will offer a path to citizenship to illegal immigrants, add up to 200,000 visas per year depending on the U.S. economic conditions and employment needs, increase substantially the number of visas allocated for highly skilled tech workers, and reduce some categories of family visas.
Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), a member of the Gang of 8 bipartisan group, said yesterday that the group was close to an agreement on a comprehensive overhaul the U.S. immigration system. The group’s plan will be made public next month.
The senators wanted to unveil the bill this month, but now have said they would do so shortly after returning 8 April.
The bill will offer a path to citizenship for undocumented migrants, and will include a program for foreign workers which would add up to 200,000 visas per year depending on the U.S. economic conditions and employment needs.
There are disagreements among group members, however, about how much those workers would be paid.
The bill would also increase substantially the number of visas allocated for highly skilled tech workers and reduce some categories of family visas.
The Washington Post reports that the Gang of 8 is finishing its work on the bill against the backdrop of leading Republicans changing their position from opposition to support of immigration law overhaul. The last two GOP leaders to announce support for immigration reform are Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour.
Public opinion, too, has moved toward supporting immigration reform, with a Thursday Public Religion Research poll Thursday finding that that 63 percent of Americans support offering illegal immigrants a path to citizenship if they meet certain requirements.
The group is keeping its deliberations secret.
Complaining about some leaks from the group’s discussions, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), a leading member of the group, told reporters Thursday: “I’m not discussing what we’re discussing…. It’s one of the things frankly that’s hurt, these selective leaks that have gone out.”
