Despite mounting pressures for more border security in the wake of Arizona’s illegal-immigration crackdown, lawmakers have no intention of tackling the problem at the federal level with legislation focused solely on border security.
Instead, the Democratic majority in the House and Senate plan to attempt a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for the millions who are here illegally.
The sheer size and scope of such a measure virtually guarantees it cannot be passed this year, especially with the midterm elections approaching. This leaves Arizona and the other southwestern border states on their own in dealing with the escalating problem.
“The system is broken,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said recently, explaining why a comprehensive bill is needed.
Democrats know if they meet Republican demands for a narrow bill focused on border security, the chances of ever passing a citizenship program for illegals on its own will be greatly reduced.
“Ultimately, there are so many constituencies to this immigration battle, unless all of them are satisfied, it doesn’t look like there is enough support for the bill and that is why the package has become as important as the policy is,” said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute at the New York University School of Law.
Attempting border security alone would almost certainly alienate Hispanic voters who have become a core constituency for the Democratic Party.
“They do show up at midterm elections and this is a big issue,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.
While most Republicans agree the nation’s immigration policy needs a complete overhaul, most want more immediate action that deals strictly with border problems.
Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl, both Republicans from Arizona, have introduced a 10-point plan aimed at improving border security in their state, which recently implemented a controversial law that makes it a state crime to be in violation of federal immigration laws.
The McCain/Kyl plan calls for deploying 3,000 National Guard troops to the border between Arizona and Mexico and beefing up the border patrol by an additional 3,000 agents by 2015. They also want to double or triple the fencing in some areas along the border in Arizona, and complete the fence, which is supposed to extend 700 miles along the border with Mexico but still has big gaps.
Democrats answered back with their own plan, which incorporates a tough border security component inside a much bigger bill that would allow the nation’s more than 11 million illegal immigrants to become legal by paying a fine and back taxes.
The Democratic bill included no Republican co-sponsors, but they are hoping to lure in the GOP and some moderate Democrats with the border security provisions.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called the proposal “a conceptual paper that promises everything.”
Kyl told the Washington Examiner that many Republicans have no interest in tackling a wider reform effort until the administration steps up efforts to secure the border now.
“Trust but verify,” Kyl said. “I’m not doing anything until I see the action, not just the promise.”
