President Biden’s plan to pass a broad immigration review is facing strong headwinds in Congress, which has emerged as a legislative black hole for reform efforts in recent years.
Biden, as one of his first legislative proposals, outlined a comprehensive bill that would provide paths for citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, reinforce protection for refugees and include new technologies along the border.
Democrats recognize that a small majority in the House and the need for support from the Republican Party in the Senate are likely to determine which immigration proposals, if any, can be passed by Congress and arrive at Biden’s table.
“There are some things that I think are likely to be included and others that will have a very wide reach,” said Senate Majority Whip. Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinDemocrats evaluate the expansion of the lower courts after Trump blitz Biden reignites immigration struggle in Congress. Biden’s immigration plans hit initial hurdles MORE (D-Ill.), The new chairman of the Judiciary Committee, on Biden’s plan.
Instead, Durbin is planning to start with a minor issue that already has bipartisan support – so-called dreamers – when he and Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham Top Trump impeachment lawyer, Bowers, leaves team: reports that Biden reignites immigration fight in Congress Biden’s immigration plans hit initial hurdles MORE (RS.C.) reintroduce the DREAM Act legislation during the first week of February.
The project should mirror the legislation they previously offered, which extended permanent residence and eventual citizenship to immigrants brought into the country illegally as children who meet certain work and education requirements.
Durbin said he sees the bipartisan measure as the starting point for broader negotiations on a bill that could win 60 votes in the Senate, the amount needed to overcome an obstruction. If each Democrat voted for an immigration bill, he would still need the support of 10 Republican senators to move forward.
“This will be our starting point for building support, as well as considering any additions to it. It’s complicated territory, ”said Durbin.
Meanwhile, the senator Robert Menendez
Robert (Bob) MenendezBiden reignites immigration fight in Congress Biden’s immigration plans hit initial obstacles Senate confirms Antony Blinken as Biden’s secretary of state MORE (DN.J.) is taking the lead in legislation that will reflect the Biden-Harris proposal, although he acknowledged that he “has no illusions” about the legislative path ahead.
“I know from times in the Gang of Eight that approving immigration reform by the Senate is a Herculean task,” said Menendez, who was part of the 2013 effort to pass comprehensive reform, during an event with immigration reform advocates.
Immigration deals have eluded Congress for years. Even though members on both sides of the aisle say they want a deal, they don’t agree on how it should be.
In 2013, the Senate passed an immigration reform bill, with 68 votes, which included a 13-year path to citizenship. The measure ended up paralyzed in the House controlled by the Republican Party.
Of the Republican senators who supported this project, only Sens. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsBiden reignites immigration struggle in Congress Paul says that Roberts’ absence ‘crystallized’ the argument against Trump’s impeachment. Democrats ready to bypass Republicans in the COVID-19 relief bill MORE (Maine), Graham, John Hoeven
John Henry HoevenBiden reignites immigration fight at McConnell Congress about to teach Trump about political power for the last time the Republican opposition opposes the results of the Electoral College MORE (ND), Lisa Murowksi (Alaska) and Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioBiden reignites immigration struggle in the Peters Congress to lead the Democrats’ campaign arm in the Senate The Hill’s Morning Report – judgment on Democratic issues; January becomes the deadliest month of the pandemic MORE (Florida) remain in office.
Closing an immigration deal has only become more politically charged since then, largely because of the old President Trump
Donald TrumpKelli Ward rejects Arizona Republican Party race audit request Gun sales boom amid pandemic uncertainty, Biden’s vote for gun reform Top Trump impeachment lawyer, Bowers leaves team: reports MOREthe rise to power and its continued control over the GOP base. Trump took a tough stand against immigration and poured billions of dollars into the controversial U.S.-Mexico border wall.
In 2018, Trump briefly opened the door to a path to citizenship for dreamers in exchange for $ 25 billion for his border wall. But that quickly fell apart when his government revised the offer, adding cuts to legal immigration. The Senate ended up rejecting four immigration plans in mid-February that year.
After Democrats regained control of the House in 2019, they passed immigration legislation that dealt with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and recipients of Temporary Protection Status (TPS), but came to a dead end. in the Senate controlled by the Republican Party.
Republicans criticized Biden’s immigration proposal, noting that, without rejecting the 60-vote legislative obstruction, something Democrats currently have no votes to do, it is probably not going anywhere in a 50-50 Senate.
“The new government has also drafted a proposal for a general amnesty that would destroy the application of American laws and, at the same time, create huge new incentives for people to run here illegally at the same time. That kind of failed approach will lead to another humanitarian crisis. on our border, “said the leader of the Republican Party in the Senate Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellLou Dobbs beats “petty” Republicans criticizing Trump Biden reignites immigration fight in Congress Louise Linton plays a sexually obsessed and murderous hedge fund manager in her debut as a writer and director MORE (R-Ky).
Asked about Biden’s proposal, Graham, in a telephone interview with The Hill, said that a broad and comprehensive immigration reform would be needed, and “I just don’t see the space to do that.”
The Biden government and immigration advocates have endorsed the dismemberment of the package if it facilitates its approval in a Congress with tight margins.
Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center and former co-chair of the Biden-Sanders unit task force, said she supports the passing of Biden’s legislation in parts and suggested that a bill providing protections for essential workers could move forward through the reconciliation process, which requires only a simple majority for approval.
“We are in favor of bringing as much relief as possible to immigrant families at this time. If that means that the best and fastest way to do this is through different legislative vehicles, then yes, we fully support that, “she said.
But downsizing is still a potential factor for Republicans.
Graham said he sees his DREAM bill with Durbin as a starting point for negotiations that would ultimately have to include border security elements and address the underlying causes of immigration. If they did not get a bigger deal, Graham said, he would not support the approval of an autonomous DREAM Act and did not think 10 Republicans would support him too.
“I sympathize with the dreaming population,” said Graham, adding that legislation should be done in a way that also does not “increase incentives for more illegal immigration.”
He added that his bill with Durbin “is a good place to start the discussion and build a compromise that is beneficial to the dream population and does not encourage a third wave of illegal immigration.”
Other Republicans are warning Durbin against trying to go too broad, predicting that this would only lead to a stalemate for legislation that already faces great chances of passing. Durbin named DACA and TPS as his top priorities.
“He better start with something smaller like DACA,” said the senator. Chuck Grassley
Chuck GrassleyBiden reignites immigration struggle in the Psaki Congress expects Mayorkas, a DHS nominee, to head the task force to bring separate families together. Biden DHS chooses advances in the Senate, removing Republican obstacle MORE (R-Iowa), a member of the Judiciary Committee, when asked about Durbin’s desire to deal with immigration legislation.
Asked about the combination of DACA and TPS, Grassley said he would rather focus on the first question, but even combining the two would have a “much better chance of doing this than if they were done comprehensively”.
Sen. John Cornyn
John CornynDemocrats evaluate the expansion of the lower courts after Trump’s Blitz. Biden reignites immigration fight in Congress Trump’s censorship faces tough adversities in the Senate MORE (R-Texas), another member of the Judiciary Committee, said he “kind of gave up” on comprehensive reform, but wanted to “find a solution” for DACA recipients through legislation.
Cornyn, however, also seemed skeptical about combining it with temporary protections.
“Well, now there it is, starting to add other things,” he said. “I think that is the problem; you have to do a little bit at a time. “
Morgan Chalfant contributed.