A bill for immigration reform
A group of Republican and Democratic senators introduced long-awaited immigration legislation.
A group of Republican and Democratic senators this week introduced long-awaited immigration legislation that would overhaul the nation’s current system and provide a path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country. Under the legislation, worked out over months by the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. before Dec. 31, 2011, would be eligible to apply for “provisional” legal status six months after the president signs the 844-page bill. To meet concerns of conservatives, the reforms would only apply once the federal government tightens border security standards and punishes employers who hire undocumented workers; immigrants would also have to wait at least a decade before applying for full citizenship and the federal benefits it brings. The proposal faces months of debate and scores of possible amendments, particularly in the Republican-controlled House.
Let’s marvel for a moment at this bill’s “mere existence,” said The New York Times in an editorial. As the product of a “delicate balancing of competing interests,” it includes some provisions that are hard to stomach. The bill throws at least $6.5 billion at a “foolishly costly” effort to militarize our southern border, and leaves millions of people stuck in “registered provisional immigrant” limbo for years. But for the first time, they will be able to work and travel freely. “The importance of legalizing them, erasing the crippling fear of deportation, cannot be overstated.”
Don’t call this reform, said Fred Bauer in NationalReview.com. It’s “amnesty,” and on an unbelievable scale. Under these proposals, millions could renew their “provisional” status over and over again. The expanded H-1B visa program, along with the new W-visa programs for lower-skilled positions, would allow hundreds of thousands of “supposedly temporary” workers to enter the U.S., “and bring their immediate family members with them.” All conservatives get in return is “a few provisions for enforcement.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Face facts, said Jennifer Rubin in WashingtonPost.com: “The status quo now is ‘amnesty.’” These people are already here, and they’re not going home. At least these proposals “get these immigrants into a system,” forcing them to pass background checks, have a clean record, and pay taxes. “Like all compromises, it is imperfect.” But it’s still “very conservative-friendly.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Help! Do we really need four Beatles biopics?
Talking Point The cast of Sam Mendes' Beatles biopics has been announced
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Test driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge
The Week Recommends We take the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built for a spin in Barcelona
By Fergus Scholes Published
-
Tuberculosis is seeing a resurgence, and it's only going to get worse
Under the radar The spread of the deadly infection is buoyed by global unrest
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published