This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/07/us-immigration-bipartisan-deal
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Bipartisan immigration deal could be reached this week, says senator | Bipartisan immigration deal could be reached this week, says senator |
| (4 months later) | |
| A leading Senate negotiator tasked with crafting sweeping immigration reform indicated Sunday that a bipartisan deal could be in place by the end of the week. | A leading Senate negotiator tasked with crafting sweeping immigration reform indicated Sunday that a bipartisan deal could be in place by the end of the week. |
| Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Democratic senator Chuck Schumer said a group of eight lawmakers involved in the discussions were on track to deliver a bill in Washington in the coming days. | Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Democratic senator Chuck Schumer said a group of eight lawmakers involved in the discussions were on track to deliver a bill in Washington in the coming days. |
| But in an indication that work still needs to be done before an overarching deal is reached, two Republican colleagues also on the negotiating team suggested Sunday that disagreements over sections of the proposed bill remain. | But in an indication that work still needs to be done before an overarching deal is reached, two Republican colleagues also on the negotiating team suggested Sunday that disagreements over sections of the proposed bill remain. |
| "All of us have said that there will be no agreement until the eight of us agree to a big, specific bill, but hopefully we can get that done by the end of the week," said Schumer, adding: "That's what we're on track to do." | "All of us have said that there will be no agreement until the eight of us agree to a big, specific bill, but hopefully we can get that done by the end of the week," said Schumer, adding: "That's what we're on track to do." |
| But senator John McCain, another leader of the immigration talks, suggested there could be a tough road ahead for the contentious legislation. | But senator John McCain, another leader of the immigration talks, suggested there could be a tough road ahead for the contentious legislation. |
| "There will be a great deal of unhappiness about this proposal because everybody didn't get what they wanted," McCain told Face the Nation. "There are entrenched positions on both sides of this issue as far as business and labour." | "There will be a great deal of unhappiness about this proposal because everybody didn't get what they wanted," McCain told Face the Nation. "There are entrenched positions on both sides of this issue as far as business and labour." |
| A deal on immigration is a top second-term priority for President Barack Obama, and his senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said Sunday that the bill being developed in the Senate is completely consistent Obama's approach even though the Senate plan would tie border security to a path to citizenship in a manner Obama administration officials have criticised. | A deal on immigration is a top second-term priority for President Barack Obama, and his senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said Sunday that the bill being developed in the Senate is completely consistent Obama's approach even though the Senate plan would tie border security to a path to citizenship in a manner Obama administration officials have criticised. |
| Pfeiffer didn't answer directly when asked on Fox News Sunday whether Obama would sign legislation making a path to citizenship contingent on first securing the border, as negotiators in the Senate are doing. But he suggested Obama was supportive of the Senate plan. | Pfeiffer didn't answer directly when asked on Fox News Sunday whether Obama would sign legislation making a path to citizenship contingent on first securing the border, as negotiators in the Senate are doing. But he suggested Obama was supportive of the Senate plan. |
| "What they are looking at and what has been talked about in the 'gang of eight' proposal is 100% consistent with what the president is doing so we feel very good about it," Pfeiffer said. "And they are looking at it in the right way." | "What they are looking at and what has been talked about in the 'gang of eight' proposal is 100% consistent with what the president is doing so we feel very good about it," Pfeiffer said. "And they are looking at it in the right way." |
| Obama has stressed that a path to citizenship should not have major hurdles, and some immigration advocates believe that's what a requirement for a secure border would amount to. Obama's homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, has rejected the argument that border security must be achieved before a comprehensive immigration package or any pathway to legalised status can be done. | Obama has stressed that a path to citizenship should not have major hurdles, and some immigration advocates believe that's what a requirement for a secure border would amount to. Obama's homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, has rejected the argument that border security must be achieved before a comprehensive immigration package or any pathway to legalised status can be done. |
| But Republicans involved in the Senate negotiations have made clear that border security is a must for them before those living here illegally can be allowed to move toward citizenship. | But Republicans involved in the Senate negotiations have made clear that border security is a must for them before those living here illegally can be allowed to move toward citizenship. |
| "We are going to secure that border and it will be tied to a pathway to citizenship or there will be no deal," senator Lindsey Graham, another negotiator on the bill, said Sunday. | "We are going to secure that border and it will be tied to a pathway to citizenship or there will be no deal," senator Lindsey Graham, another negotiator on the bill, said Sunday. |
| Graham also suggested that disagreement over a new low-skilled worker programme could still be hanging up an overall immigration deal - even after an agreement a week ago between the AFL-CIO and the US chamber of commerce. | Graham also suggested that disagreement over a new low-skilled worker programme could still be hanging up an overall immigration deal - even after an agreement a week ago between the AFL-CIO and the US chamber of commerce. |
| The hard-won deal between labour and business would ultimately allow up to 200,000 workers a year into the US to fill jobs in construction, hospitality, nursing homes and other areas where employers now say they have a difficult time hiring Americans or legally bringing in foreign workers. Even after the deal was struck, some industries, such as construction, continued to voice complaints about the terms. | The hard-won deal between labour and business would ultimately allow up to 200,000 workers a year into the US to fill jobs in construction, hospitality, nursing homes and other areas where employers now say they have a difficult time hiring Americans or legally bringing in foreign workers. Even after the deal was struck, some industries, such as construction, continued to voice complaints about the terms. |
| Without offering details, Graham said on NBC's Meet the Press that negotiators were revisiting the low-skilled worker deal. But he issued a statement a short time later saying he was confident the agreement would hold. | Without offering details, Graham said on NBC's Meet the Press that negotiators were revisiting the low-skilled worker deal. But he issued a statement a short time later saying he was confident the agreement would hold. |
| Graham sounded optimistic overall, predicting the bill would pass the 100-member Senate with 70 votes in favor. Senators believe an overwhelming bipartisan vote is needed in the Democratic-led Senate to ensure a chance of success in the Republican-controlled House. Floor action could start in the Senate in May, Schumer said. | Graham sounded optimistic overall, predicting the bill would pass the 100-member Senate with 70 votes in favor. Senators believe an overwhelming bipartisan vote is needed in the Democratic-led Senate to ensure a chance of success in the Republican-controlled House. Floor action could start in the Senate in May, Schumer said. |
| Meanwhile two lawmakers involved in writing a bipartisan immigration bill in the House, Democratic Representative Luis Gutierrez and Republican colleague Mario Diaz-Balart, sounded optimistic that they, too, would have a deal soon that could be reconciled with the Senate agreement. | Meanwhile two lawmakers involved in writing a bipartisan immigration bill in the House, Democratic Representative Luis Gutierrez and Republican colleague Mario Diaz-Balart, sounded optimistic that they, too, would have a deal soon that could be reconciled with the Senate agreement. |
| "I am very, very optimistic that the House of Representatives is going to have a plan that is going to be able to go to a conference with the Senate in which we're going to be able to resolve this," Gutierrez said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. | "I am very, very optimistic that the House of Representatives is going to have a plan that is going to be able to go to a conference with the Senate in which we're going to be able to resolve this," Gutierrez said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |