Today, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) published their immigration blueprint in a Washington Post editorial—acknowledging that our immigration system has been broken for far too long and that the time for change is now.
“Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.”
Shortly after their blueprint was published, President Obama issued a statement pledging his support moving forward on immigration reform:
“I am pleased to see that Senators Schumer and Graham have produced a promising, bipartisan framework which can and should be the basis for moving forward. It thoughtfully addresses the need to shore up our borders, and demands accountability from both workers who are here illegally and employers who game the system.
My Administration will be consulting further with the Senators on the details of their proposal, but a critical next step will be to translate their framework into a legislative proposal, and for Congress to act at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Loading tweets...
8 comments
2 pings
Ian Kennedy says:
March 18, 2010 at 3:55 pm (UTC -5 )
Senators Schumer and Graham are working on immigration reform for those that are ‘already here’. So far most discussions by law makers seem to revolve around those that are here illegally. The so called ‘problem’. Overlooked totally are those that are here legally, have abided by all the laws including civic responsibilities run a business yet cannot apply for permanent status, despite living here for years.
What about us too? We would be happy to pay the fee, fine, administration charge or whatever the cost is.
Maxwell Maximiliano says:
March 18, 2010 at 5:13 pm (UTC -5 )
is very important step for the future of America “not saying that Immigrants do damage to US” but it is unfair that immigrants that pay taxes, bills, buy and sell in the US are not able to become legal residents and later citizens. I come from immigrants family, my brother is from Mexico, he wants to become a USAF pilot, but he doesn’t know the requierements which requieres to be a legal citizen. He has worked for years, no criminal activities at all, and you all know that illegal students are less likely to finish high school. not all the immigrants deserve to become a US citizen, implement rules or requierements like be able to speak basic english, 3 years to speak normal english. those who have criminal activites should swear to the flag that they will never do such things again, or they will be deported and arrested too.
Seansky says:
March 19, 2010 at 5:22 pm (UTC -5 )
We’re very grateful having these senators who are very willing to serve the country. It has been said that Men are treated equal, what about these skilled workers who worked 40 hrs/week then only receiving minimum pay and employers took advantage with their employees. Being petitioned by employers but then cannot adjust status. We’re hoping that this year 2010, the immigration reform will be resolved and for the progress of united states of america. God bless America!
MANUEL R. SALTA says:
March 20, 2010 at 1:20 am (UTC -5 )
i hope & prayed both senators schumer & graham & all other united states senators will push thru the comprehensive immigration reform act of 2010 so that visa backlogs in the state department will minimize especially in the family based category (F3-married & sons daughters of united states citizens)which we all know it takes 20-years or more before visa becomes available, what an anti human immigration laws is this, ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! were is the freedom now in the usa? hahaha funny, what a lousy immigration laws you have!
george says:
March 20, 2010 at 12:47 pm (UTC -5 )
That’s like saying that if we could wipe out the unemployed,unemployment would end. If we lose people we lose business, if we lose people we need fewer people employed to deliver services.
We need to repair our economy, and this is not achieved by removing people from the country.
arnel v. atienza says:
March 20, 2010 at 1:29 pm (UTC -5 )
Keep on doing what is promise before by fulfilling it. I believe by doing this, millions of people will benefit and will prosper their lives in U.S. Hope the immigration reforms will move forward.
Dorothy Z. says:
March 26, 2010 at 8:57 pm (UTC -5 )
I think it is great that Obama is finally going to pay attention to the immigration issue. We have families suffering because they are separated or because a spouse is living in the shadows because they came into the US on a valid visa, however, with that type of visa it prevents a marriage to a legal citizen to help change their status. We have good illegal immigrants who have stayed here in the US because they found love, got married and started families. They pay taxes and work for less than the minimum wage. All they want is to be able to something simple like get a damn drivers license and drive their kids to the park without worrying about being pulled over. No matter what the visa that got them legally into the US, reform is needed to help them become legal. I hope that the fine is reasonable because these illegal immigrants do not make lots of money and I hope that the reform does not expect them to return to their country of origin to do the paperwork. In regards to knowing the english language, I hope that they don’t expect perfection. This expectation should take into consideration what exposure the illegal immigrant has had to the english language. It may be minimal if the family does not speak english in the home. I pray to God that Obama thinks about the citizen children of these illegal immigrants before he does anything.
tom wing says:
June 3, 2011 at 3:51 pm (UTC -5 )
Has this web site ever put in the opinion of someone who disagrees with your basic premises??? Didn’t think so.
Dinocrat » Blog Archive » We’d go for broke says:
March 25, 2010 at 8:16 pm (UTC -5 )
[...] were to retake the House and Senate in November, what can they do? Besides, there are enough Republicans who still want to demonstrate their bi-partisanship that it might be years before they realize they are being played for [...]
Dinocrat » Blog Archive » Why the long face, Senator? says:
November 4, 2010 at 11:56 am (UTC -5 )
[...] does Lott think that the GOP was going to run candidates that lost their primary elections?) These guys like Graham and Lott ought to wake up and smell what’s brewing. Peggy Noonan is precisely correct [...]