AP
By Erica Werner
December 16, 2014
A
Congress that began with bright hopes for immigration legislation is
ending in bitter divisions on the issue even as some Republicans warn
that the political imperative for acting is stronger
than ever for the GOP.
In
place of a legislative solution, President Barack Obama's recent
executive action to curb deportations for millions here illegally stands
as the only federal response to what all lawmakers
agree is a dysfunctional immigration system. Many Democrats are
convinced Latino voters will reward them for Obama's move in the 2016
presidential and Senate elections, while some Republicans fear they will
have a price to pay.
"If
we don't make some down payment toward a rational solution on
immigration in 2015, early 2016, good luck winning the White House,"
said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina,
an author of the comprehensive immigration bill that passed the Senate
last year with bipartisan support, but stalled in the GOP-led House.
With
the expiration of the 113th Congress this month, that bill will
officially die, along with its path to citizenship for the 11 million
immigrants in this country illegally.
Immigration
is certain to be a focus for the new, fully Republican-led Congress
when it convenes in January ? but there's little expectation the GOP
will make another attempt at comprehensive
reforms.
Instead,
GOP leaders in the House and Senate have pledged to take action to
block Obama's executive moves, setting up a battle for late February
when funding expires for the Department of
Homeland Security, which oversees immigration matters. House Speaker
John Boehner, R-Ohio, has promised action on a border security bill as
part of that.
Whether
Congress can do anything to stop Obama remains unclear, since he's
certain to veto any effort to undo his executive moves. It's also not
clear lawmakers could pass a border bill, or
that Obama would sign it if they did.
While
some congressional Republicans are arguing for action on piecemeal
reforms, most advocates are resigned to waiting until a new president
takes office in 2017 for lawmakers to make another
attempt at a comprehensive overhaul that resolves the central
immigration dilemma ? the status of the millions here illegally.
"They
had the best chance in a generation and they couldn't get enough
support from the Republican caucus," said Frank Sharry, executive
director of America's Voice, an immigrant advocacy
group. "It may well be that they're going to have to lose the White
House and both chambers of Congress for us to get comprehensive
immigration reform."
When
Obama won a second term in 2012 with strong Hispanic and Asian support,
many national Republican leaders decided they needed to support
policies that would attract those growing blocs
of voters. The Republican National Committee formally embraced support
for comprehensive immigration reform as a guiding principle for the GOP.
But
legislative efforts stalled in the House as conservative Republicans
balked at Boehner's efforts to advance the issue. Last summer's crisis
over an influx of unaccompanied Central American
minors arriving at the border caused shelter overloads and case
backlogs, straining resources and creating the impression that the
border was out of control ? further souring political prospects for
reform legislation.
In
absence of congressional efforts, Obama promised he would act on his
own, and he made good on that shortly after last month's midterm
elections, announcing an array of changes that will
include work permits and three-year deportation stays for some 4
million immigrants here illegally. It mostly applies to those who've
been here more than five years and have kids who are U.S. citizens or
legal permanent residents.
The
move inflamed Republicans, who have been fighting about it ever since,
including a failed effort by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to block Obama in a
Senate floor vote this past weekend. On
Tuesday the dispute spilled over into debate on Obama's nominee to lead
the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, Sarah Saldana, the U.S.
attorney in Dallas. She was confirmed 55-39 by the Senate over
objections from Republicans who had initially supported
her but turned against her because of her support for Obama's executive
actions.
Meanwhile,
some immigration advocates complained that the steps didn't go far
enough as Obama faced criticism from both sides of the political divide.
A
new Associated Press-GfK poll found that most Americans support
allowing immigrants living in the country illegally a way to stay here
lawfully. But only 43 percent of them think Obama was
right to take executive action to make those changes, while 54 percent
of them say he should have kept trying to make a deal with Republicans.
Still, the poll also showed little sign of blowback for Obama. Although
57 percent disapprove of Obama's handling
of the immigration issue, that was down slightly from 63 percent in
October.
A
group of 24 states joined in a federal lawsuit filed in Texas alleging
that Obama overstepped his constitutional powers in a way that will only
worsen the humanitarian problems along the
southern U.S. border. And Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is in federal
court in Washington, contending that the policy is a magnet for more
illegal entries into the country that will impose a burden on law
enforcement.
In
a court filing late Monday, the Justice Department argued for dismissal
of Arpaio's case, saying he has failed to substantiate his claims.
Congressional
Republicans say that Obama's actions created an even tougher climate
for immigration legislation, but many Democrats and advocates contend
that Republicans were terminally stalled
on the issue anyway. Some Republicans question whether immigration
legislation really is a political imperative for the GOP. "It's really
mixed out there ? some people want a big immigration bill, others
don't," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a supporter of
reform efforts.
And
two years after a "Gang of Eight" senators launched an immigration
overhaul drive on Capitol Hill, some of those same players say they have
no plans to initiate another such effort.
"I'm not going to start it in the Senate," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "We've tried that."
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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