Петиция о предотвращении отмены лотереи Green Card

One third of the members of the Senate judiciary committee voted on Thursday to delay US immigration reform at its first committee hurdle, suggesting the bill may face a bumpier ride through Congress than its bi-partisan backers have hoped.

An amendment, proposed by the Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, would have required the government to show it had "fully secured" the border with Mexico for six months before allowing the estimated 11 million undocumented migrants who are already in the US to begin applying for legal status. Currently, the bill proposes allowing the process to begin as long as the government comes up with a plan to tighten border security further.

Though defeated, the attempt to delay the process was supported by five other Republicans on the judiciary committee, which is considering amendments in the first stage of a legislative process that is likely to last until at least July. Only Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Arizona's Jeff Flake, both members of the "gang of eight" who proposed the bill last month, voted against their fellow Republicans.

Although a Democrat majority on the Senate committee ensures the so-called mark-up process should proceed without any major opposition measure passing, the initial session on Thursday undermined suggestions that there is broad bi-partisan support for the immigration reform bill. Some among the gang of eight had hoped for a majority of 70-plus in the full Senate as a show of strength that would give the bill momentum through the Republican-controlled House.

Grassley said: "The bill will struggle to pass the House unless the border security problem is fixed." He argued that US public opinion was against anything that would add millions of new legal competitors for jobs without first guaranteeing that no more illegal immigrants would arrive.

The committee debate also heard colourful language fr om the Texas Republican John Cornyn, who said there were also national security concerns – as some of those coming across the Mexican border were "wearing turbans".

Graham suggested that many of those crossing from Mexico and other countries were doing so because wh ere they came from was a "hell hole".

The New York Democrat Chuck Schumer, one of the key backers of reform, warned that any amendment requiring full border security compliance could fatally undermine the legislation. "It would mean if one radar is broken then nobody who is already here could get legal status," he said. "It would probably delay for ever anything to bring these people out of the shadows."

Another Grassley amendment, proposing that Congress rather than the government should determine whether border security was adequate before implementing the bill, saw a similar 6 vs 12 rebellion from Republicans. The committee continues its session on Thursday afternoon.



Короче, они уже сами не знают, что хотят и как хотят.


8% chance of getting past committee.
2% chance of being enacted.

Билл пока находится в комитете и не идет дальше в Сенат. Как долго только никто не знает.