Immigration debate clears procedural Senate hurdle

Johnny Isakson (R) Y

Saxby Chambliss (R) Y

FOR AAS

HOW THEY VOTED

The Senate voted Tuesday to begin debate on immigration legislation

John Cornyn (R) Y

Ted Cruz (R) N

FOR CMG Ohio

HOW THEY VOTED

The Senate voted Tuesday to begin debate on immigration legislation

Sherrod Brown (D) Y

Rob Portman (R) Y

FOR PBP

HOW THEY VOTED

The Senate voted Tuesday to begin debate on immigration legislation

Bill Nelson (D) Y

Marco Rubio (R) Y

The Senate pushed contentious immigration legislation over early procedural hurdles Tuesday as President Barack Obama insisted the “moment is now” to give 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally a chance at citizenship.

But Republicans served notice they will seek to toughen the bill’s border security provisions and impose tougher terms on those seeking to gain legal status.

“This bill has serious flaws,” said their party leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, one of several who noted pointedly that the 60-vote majority they will demand for passage is hardly assured.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is trying to alter the legislation he helped draft, said that with changes to tighten control of the U.S.-Mexican border, about half of the Senate’s 46 Republicans are prepared to vote to create the pathway to citizenship that is backed by most or all of the 55 lawmakers aligned with the Democratic majority.

At the White House, Obama said repeatedly the current immigration system is broken, for the foreign-born who live in the United State legally and illegally alike.

Referring to the 11 million currently in the country unlawfully, he said, “Yes, they broke the rules; they didn’t wait their turn. They shouldn’t be let off easy. They shouldn’t be allowed to game the system. But at the same time, the vast majority of these individuals aren’t looking for any trouble. They’re just looking to provide for their families, contribute to their communities.”

At its core, the bill sets out a 13-year journey to citizenship for the millions of immigrants who arrived in the United States illegally through the end of 2011 or who overstayed their visas. That journey would include paying fines and back taxes and other measures. The bill also requires a tighter border to prevent future illegal immigration.

Other key provisions would create a new program for low-skilled workers to enter the country and expand the number of visas for high-skilled who are particularly in demand at technology firms. The bill also jettisons a decades-old system that favors family ties over education, job skills and other factors in prioritizing prospective legal immigrants.

Some Republicans hope to use the issue to repair their party’s image among Hispanic voters, a growing portion of the electorate in key states, and a group that polls show gave Obama 71 percent of its votes last year.

But the GOP is divided, with other lawmakers resisting anything that smacks of amnesty without assuring that the long border with Mexico in particular is virtually closed to unlawful immigration.

“Of all of the issues swirling around this bill, the path to citizenship for those who are here illegally is the single most divisive issue,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican elected to his first term last fall. “And that is the issue on which the Obama White House and Senate Democrats insist, and by insisting on that division, I believe they by design destine this bill to be voted down.”

Taken together, the two procedural votes had the effect of placing the bill formally before the Senate and open for amendments. Both drew more than 80 votes, reflecting a bipartisan desire to have the debate that now is expected to consume three weeks.

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One early skirmish took shape over a proposal by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It would permit the legalization process to begin, but require several changes before anyone currently in the country illegally could receive a green card that confers permanent legal residence.

Those changes include apprehension of at least 90 percent of those seeking to cross into the United States at every segment of the Southern border, implementation of a biometric exit system at all air and sea ports of entry and a nationwide E-Verify system to check the legal status of prospective employees.

Democratic supporters of the legislation have deemed Cornyn’s plan a “poison pill,” designed to wreck the bill’s chances for passage instead of enhance them. But the Texan told reporters he had some leverage to force changes, if nothing else.

“I think if they had 60 votes to pass a bill out of the Senate, they probably wouldn’t be talking to me. And they are,” Cornyn said of majority Democrats.

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As the Senate embarked on a debate expected to last for weeks, Speaker John Boehner said he hoped companion legislation could clear committee in the House by the end of the month.