The senators believe that both the parties would support their immigration reform bill and the immigration reform bill was released by the senators last week and it includes a pathway to US citizenship, goals for border security and guest workers programs. Senators McCain (R-Ariz) and Schumer (D-NY) stated that the immigration bill is likely to 70 votes, in the Senate. The bill will have to get 60 votes in order to pass and the senators believe that their bill would get 70 votes and this would help the bill to pass in the House controlled by the Republicans and the senators also discussed the importance of a large immigration bill. Immigration reform bill of the senators includes four main points and the bill mainly focuses on border security. The bill would grant legal status to the undocumented immigrants and the DREAMers and collect fees from the undocumented immigrants who apply for lawful status. The bill would increase the cap on H-1B visas and create guest worker programs and grant Blue Cards to agricultural workers.
The Senate immigration reform bill would grant permanent resident status to the undocumented immigrants after the border security goals are met. Nevertheless, all the undocumented immigrants may not become eligible and only the individuals who have maintained clean criminal records and who pay the required fees and back taxes would be granted lawful status. Immigrants applying for lawful status would be required to pay a penalty of $500 but this may not apply to the DREAMers and the DREAMers need not pay the fees. Undocumented immigrants who have been working in agricultural industries and who have worked for 100 days, would be granted Blue Cards and permitted to work in the United States. These workers would also be permitted to apply for lawful status.
Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), House Judiciary Chairman and Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Immigration Subcommittee Chairman, stated that a piecemeal approach will begin soon and Senators McCain and Schumer, stated that the immigration reform bill must not only legalize the undocumented immigrants but also include a path to US citizenship. Senator Schumer said that the Democrats will not support an immigration reform bill that would not permit the undocumented immigrants to obtain US citizenship.