Status of Immigration Reform

The immigration debate centered around two sides, one side wants to pass a amnesty of sorts, which will allow people to become legal.  The other side wants to make everyone a criminal.  Congress is made up of two bodies, the House of Representatives and the Senate.  The House passed a bill that made everyone illegal a criminal.  At that time, immigrant activists and pro-immigrant groups took to the streets in protest.  During the protest and debate the Senate passed a bill that essentially gives many illegal aliens the opportunity to legalize.   The problem with immigration reform is what will be the outcome of these two different pieces of legislation. 

The current state is that a committee is formed which makes of members of the House and Senate.  This committee’s purpose is to debate the issues and try to come up with a resolution or one law that can be passed by both bodies of Congress.  That is what is currently occurring.  No one knows what will happen and whether a law will materialize or whether the differences are so far apart that nothing will happen.       

On July 18, the Immigration, Border Security, and Claims Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled "Should We Embrace the Senate's Grant of Amnesty to Millions of Illegal Aliens and Repeat the Mistakes of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986?" Rep. Reyes (D-16th TX) told the subcommittee, "The time for talk about these issues has long since passed and the moment for action is now. Instead of numerous hearings that may make good politics but do little to advance sound policy, Congress needs to reach a compromise agreement on comprehensive border security and immigration reform legislation." Despite these remarks the House, which is poised against legalization, is pushing for more hearings.

Written by:
Sanjay S. Mathur
Attorney at Law
Mathur Law Offices, P.C.
www.mathurlawoffices.com
214-378-8880