The US Senate has finally begun the debate on the landmark immigration reform bill that seeks to provide a 13-year route to earned citizenship for an estimated 11 million illegal aliens including about 300,000 Indians, expand the H-1B work visa programme and streamline procedures for permanent residence.
Signalling a bipartisan push, members of both parties voted overwhelmingly (84-15) to give the green light for the debate that could stretch for at least three weeks.
The strong support at this stage, however, cannot be viewed as a precursor to smooth passage, given the strong opposition among some Republicans to push ahead with the reform package, without first dealing with the border security issue. As many as 44 amendments had been filed within the first two hours of the debate. Some of the key amendments want to subject the illegal immigrants to a longer wait until the borders are deemed secure.
Even so, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid is hopeful of the Senate passing the measure by early July. Some of the authors of the bill also exuded confidence. “This overwhelming vote, a majority of both parties, starts this bill off on just the right foot,” said Democratic senator Chuck Schumer, one of the eight authors. But Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican author, cautioned that the good start notwithstanding, the bill has a long way to go.
Republicans in both chambers, notably in the House where they hold the majority, have been arguing for long that the government must first enforce tighter control of the border with Mexico that is known to be the gateway to much of the illegal influx. This is regardless of the fact that the omnibus bill has been put together by a bipartisan group composed of four senators from each party.
Even if the Senate gets to pass the bill, Congressional watchers expect roadblocks in the House, which is likely to pursue its own bill, with greater accent on border security.
President Barack Obama, who is according the highest importance to immigration reform this year, has been nudging lawmakers to swiftly pass this comprehensive reform package.
“If passed, the Senate bill, as currently written and as hitting the floor, would put in place the toughest border enforcement plan that America has ever seen. So nobody’s taking border enforcement lightly,” he said at a White House event, just ahead of the Senate debate, adding: “If you’re actually serious and sincere about fixing a broken system, this is the vehicle to do it, and now is the time to get it done.”