President Obama recently declared that he would be willing to take a step-by-step approach to the immigration reform issue. He said that he would back the bills of the Republicans if their bills include all provisions that have been included in the Senate immigration reform bill. A bipartisan bill was passed by the U.S. Senate in June and this legislation would set a 13-year path to U.S. citizenship for the undocumented immigrants living in the country. This bill that would also strengthen border security, has White House support.
President Obama wants the House to pass the reform bill that was passed by the U.S. Senate but the House Republicans are not willing to move forward on a comprehensive solution. The House is also not ready to vote on the comprehensive bill that the Senate has passed. Most of the House Republicans, including Speaker John Boehner, are in favor of a piecemeal approach. They prefer voting on individual issues such as border security. Conservative lawmakers believe that the Senate bill’s 13 year path to US citizenship is “amnesty” and they are against it.
According to President Obama, a bill that includes a path to US citizenship for the undocumented immigrants living in the country and that would stiffen border security, must be passed. Several immigration activists are now urging the members of the House to pass a reform bill, that includes provisions included in the Senate bill. President Obama wants to get immigration reform decided by the end of the year. But Republicans like Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., believe that there is not enough time left in 2013 in the legislative calendar to debate and decide on immigration reform.