Since the announcement of the "Gang of 8's" comprehensive immigration reform proposal, it was anticipated that its approval would be difficult. Now, it will be even more so.
Yesterday afternoon, Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee introduced 300 amendments to the current bill entitled ''Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act" (S. 744). In Spanish: "Seguridad Fronteriza, Oportunidad Económica, y Ley de Modernización de Inmigración".
Some of the amendments would improve the immigration system, but a large number of proposals could present an obstacle to real immigration reform efforts.
Among the most harmful is the proposal of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who wants to deny citizenship to any immigrant who has been in the country illegally. This would directly affect the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants for whom immigration reform has been advocated in principle.
You can see a summary of the 300 amendments by clicking here. here.
During 7 hours of hearings today, the Senate Judiciary Committee debated 32 of the amendments, of which 21 were approved.
The amendments approved today include those that would strengthen border security and protect border communities. But the committee rejected amendments that would triple the number of border patrol agents to more than 60,000 (there are currently 21,000 agents on the border) and increase spending to billions of additional dollars on infrastructure and the construction of a reinforced "double wall" along the border.
The Committee approved amendments to improve the treatment of children and families in detention centers and to protect families affected by border violence.
The committee will resume discussion of the amendments on Tuesday, May 14.
I will continue to keep you informed of amendments and changes to the proposal as they become known.
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