Sides forming in next immigration-reform push

he prospect of millions of illegal immigrants earning a path to citizenship is now back on the table in Congress, though the first bill out of the chute has already split some California progressives and has zero support from Republicans.
Bay Area immigrant families and their allies rallied Friday at a San Francisco high school to promote legalization and other measures that would overhaul U.S. immigration policy, which has not substantially changed for more than a decade.
They were united in favor of a humanitarian approach to reforming immigration policy, though disagreed on the finer details of a 650-page reform bill introduced last week by 92 liberal Democratic lawmakers, including four from the Bay Area.
At its crux, the bill introduced by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., would allow people living in the U.S. without legal documents to pay a $500 fee and show they made contributions to the U.S. through work, school, volunteering or military service. After six years on a conditional visa, those who qualify can get a green card visa and eventually obtain citizenship.
The bill is designed in part to put pressure on President Barack Obama, who has pledged to take on immigration reform next year and has advocated an overhaul that would include a path to citizenship. Opponents have characterized the bill as permissive and doomed to fail.

Read the full story on Contra Costa Times

Immigration overhaul would allow legalization of undocumented immigrants

A large group of Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday that would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally if they pay a fine, learn English and meet other requirements.
Republicans questioned the timing of adding millions of legal workers to the nation’s workforce – especially when there’s record unemployment.

“With over 15 million Americans unemployed and seven million illegals employed, amnesty legislation is an affront to American citizens and legal residents,” said Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea.

The legislation would legalize undocumented immigrants by requiring them to register with the federal government, pay a $500 fine, learn English, pass background checks and meet other requirements. They then are eligible for a six-year visa and then a green card visa.

Source: Whittier Daily News

Unexpectedly, the House Passes Health Care Reform Without Imposing a Waiting Period for Recent Immigrants

On November 7, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a bill that in part creates health insurance subsidies for people with low incomes. Congress was strongly lobbied to delay access to these subsidies for Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), or “green card visa” holders, by imposing a five-year waiting period. Ultimately, however, the final version of the bill passed without as much as an amendment offered to impose a waiting period of any duration on LPRs. This may be a sign that the tide is shifting on the broader issue of immigration, as Republican leadership decided at the last minute not to force a vote on an immigration provision within the bill, as reported by Jennifer Bendery of RollCall. She suggests that by not pressing the immigration issue in the House the GOP was placating Hispanic Republicans. It is also likely that Republicans concluded it was in their political interest to focus instead on splitting the House Democrats on the issue of federal subsidies for health care programs that cover abortion with the so-called Stupak-Pitt Amendment. That amendment, which became part of the final bill in the House, has since undeniably become the most controversial aspect of the House bill for the Democratic majority.

[Read the full story at Masliah Soloway]