Immigration bill faces tough opposition
Republicans in the House of Representatives have told the White House that the proposed immigration legislation is "all but doomed" this year as conservative lawmakers are unwilling to budge on their opposition to grant eventual citizenship to mil...
By PTI |
WASHINGTON: In a major blow to US President George W Bush, Republicans in the House of Representatives have told the White House that the proposed immigration legislation is "all but doomed" this year as conservative lawmakers are unwilling to budge on their opposition to grant eventual citizenship to millions of illegal aliens.
In a rare move, House leaders have said they will hold field hearings during the summer recess in August and push for final negotiations with the Senate on a compromise formula to move the legislation forward sometime in September.
One of the measures approved in the Senate is for a hefty increase in the H1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 with an annual increase of 20 per cent. The House version does not contain this provision but everything is now in jeopardy given the tough stance of the conservative Republicans.
"Our number one priority is to secure the border, and right now I haven't heard a lot of pressure to have a path to citizenship," said Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House.
He is said to have privately conveyed his views to the White House on where things stand on Capitol Hill on the immigration legislation.
Political analysts believe that with a view to not offending the White House or the President personally, top Republicans in the House and the Senate are unwilling to be anymore blunt on what they have been saying.
The Immigration Bill, as passed by the Senate that includes a Guest Worker Programme and the opportunity for citizenship for illegals is "dead" for the year, according to Republican lawmakers.
In a rare move, House leaders have said they will hold field hearings during the summer recess in August and push for final negotiations with the Senate on a compromise formula to move the legislation forward sometime in September.
One of the measures approved in the Senate is for a hefty increase in the H1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 with an annual increase of 20 per cent. The House version does not contain this provision but everything is now in jeopardy given the tough stance of the conservative Republicans.
"Our number one priority is to secure the border, and right now I haven't heard a lot of pressure to have a path to citizenship," said Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House.
He is said to have privately conveyed his views to the White House on where things stand on Capitol Hill on the immigration legislation.
Political analysts believe that with a view to not offending the White House or the President personally, top Republicans in the House and the Senate are unwilling to be anymore blunt on what they have been saying.
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The Immigration Bill, as passed by the Senate that includes a Guest Worker Programme and the opportunity for citizenship for illegals is "dead" for the year, according to Republican lawmakers.
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