Schumer Says Reform Will Happen This Year

Jessica Brady writes in Roll Call:

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) maintained Wednesday that Congress will tackle comprehensive immigration reform this Congress, and perhaps even this year.

“All of the fundamental building blocks are in place to pass comprehensive immigration reform this session and, even possibly, later this year,” Schumer, the No. 3 Democratic leader, said during a speech before the Migration Policy Institute.

Schumer, chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, outlined key principles that must be part a reform bill, including strong enforcement of illegal immigration, an employer-based verification system and a direct path to citizenship.

The Democratic Conference vice chairman, who will join a group of lawmakers at the White House on Thursday for a summit on immigration, underscored “the intensity for solving this problem once and for all” this year. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has similarly suggested that immigration must be tackled sooner rather than later.

“I have no doubt that President Obama has an unyielding commitment to achieving comprehensive immigration reform,” Schumer said. “And I truly believe that his leadership will be the critical difference in getting us over the hump this time around.” Click here for the rest of the story.

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