Vote on Immigration Reform in Early Summer, Or the President Will Have No Choice But to Act Today, actions from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and influential Spanish language journalist Jorge Ramos made it clear that if House Republicans fail to act on immigration... Continue »
Next month will mark the one-year anniversary of the Senate passing of S. 744, its bipartisan immigration reform bill.  Since House Republicans have spent that whole time doing precisely nothing on real immigration reform — while making time for votes that Steve King wants — the GOP can expect to... Continue »
Meanwhile, In the House Pelosi and Hoyer Challenge Republican Leadership on Inaction As advocates from around the country yesterday rallied for immigration reform and an end to record deportations, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) took to the Senate floor to deliver an impassioned speech directed at the House GOP.  He sharply criticized their failure to... Continue »
Earlier today, as we noted, Majority Leader Harry Reid said: I am concerned that some who oppose the very idea of reform see these triggers as a backdoor way to undermine the legislation. And I believe some Republicans with no intention of voting for the final bill – regardless... Continue »
The critics of the Gang of Eight immigration reform bill incessantly – and mistakenly – claim that the proposed legislation doesn’t have enough teeth, doesn’t guarantee border security and won’t work to stop a new wave of unauthorized immigration.  Well, today, they were schooled by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY).... Continue »
Senator Jeff Sessions has established himself as one of the leading opponents of immigration reform. We expect him to put on quite a show against immigration reform as markup continues over the next few weeks. Today, Sessions began challenging Chuck Schumer over aspects of the “Gang of Eight” bill.... Continue »
During a week in which House Republicans announced a plan to do immigration legislation piecemeal and some Senate Republicans, led by Jeff Sessions and Chuck Grassley, continue to insist that we must slow down immigration reform, Gang of 8 members Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ)... Continue »
The Republican Party has embarked on a major overhaul of its recent anti-immigrant stance, spurred in large part by historically low levels of support from Latino voters in the 2012 elections.  Yet judging from the witnesses that Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called at yesterday’s immigration... Continue »
Yesterday we wrote about a New York Times story on immigrants in detention who are forced into solitary confinement for 22 to 23 hours a day and weeks on end.  The method of imprisonment—already considered a form of torture—is especially horrific when imposed upon immigrants, who are held for... Continue »