Border strategy could halt immigration agreement
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Published on 03-25-2013 08:23 AM
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Border strategy could halt immigration agreement
A bipartisan committee of senators working on an immigration bill could fail its time-line goal if Republicans insist on a hard-line policy that includes sealing the border before any possibility of legalizing about 11 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.
The group composed by four Democrats and four Republicans, is set to unveil a draft of the document at the beginning of April.
T.J. Kirkpatrick
The Examiner
Conservatives argue that once a bill passes, immigration authorities will do no effort to stop further illegal entry nor to track and deport those who cross the border without proper authorization. Senators are discussing a variety of enforcement-related standards that would need to be met before undocumented immigrants can move toward citizenship.
“We cannot simply legalize 12 million people and enforce the laws later,” Senate Judiciary Committee ranking Republican Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said.
A group of House members is working likewise on its own version of an immigration initiative. Both measures seek the legalization of undocumented immigrants with no criminal record.
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