Monday a bipartisan framework for immigration reform was advanced by eight key senators– Michael Bennet, D-CO; Richard Durbin, D-IL; Jeff Flake, R-AZ; Lindsey Graham, R-SC; Robert Menendez, D-NJ; John McCain, R-AZ; Marco Rubio, R-FL; and Charles Schumer, D-NY.
The framework includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people, a version of the DREAM Act, expedited reunification for families and visas made available sufficient to address the real needs of American businesses. But it also is an enforcement-first plan that includes the beefing up of personnel in border patrols, installing more surveillance systems, and potentially harsh penalties. The senators’ document can be seen here.
So there is something here for everyone to like and to dislike. It will be a struggle, but we do have an opening to some progress.
Statements about the plan run the gamut of course. Here are links to the happy statement from Church World Service, a less optimistic view by Border Network for Human Rights, and a pretty balanced perspective from the General Board of Church and Society of the UMC. Everyone is reporting on it, so you can google to get various flavors.
Obama’s speech is today, and we will report on that soon.