A White House proposal for a “bipartisan” immigration plan which is receiving considerable pushback from both Republicans and Democrats. The White House plan seeks to create a path to citizenship not only for current “Dreamers” (recipients of DACA). They also include an expansion to include people who would be eligible for DACA but have never applied. However, they also propose funding for the wall of the United States, increased enforcement funding, and a reduction in legal immigration.
Immigration Proposal is Widely Criticized
Both Republicans and Democrats find the proposal impossible. Some Republicans consider the path for citizenship to the Dreamers to amount to amnesty for law breakers. Of course, many of these “law breakers” were minors who probably were brought to the United States with no knowledge that they were breaking any laws. Democrats blast the plan for its increased funding of enforcement and the wasted funding on a wall that they believe would be a waste of money. They are also critical of the idea of reducing legal immigration, creating further incentives for people to enter or remain in the United States without status.
Bipartisan lawmaking is making little headway
With increasingly partisan decision-making in both the House and the Senate, the proposal could never become a law. The plan certainly couldn’t pass with the necessary majority to become a bill and eventually a law. Both parties have made numerous attempts to get an immigration agreement brought up for even a vote, with little luck. Majority leaders in both chambers refuse to vote on any bill until supported by a majority of their party. This seems less and less likely. There has been some hope that a smaller bill that focused solely on the Dreamers might have more chance of success, but so far, both parties are finding the other party unwilling or unable to come closer to an agreement that might pass.
