President Barack Obama has come out in support of a compromise immigration reform legislation unveiled by a bipartisan group of senators offering a 13-year path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants, including 260,000 Indians.
The bill does not include everything he wanted, but it is largely consistent with his principles for comprehensive reform said Obama in a statement after key senators from the so-called Gang of Eight made up of four Republicans and four Democrats.
The proposed legislation would create such a path of citizenship only after steps are taken to secure the border with Mexico, from where as many as 60 percent of the illegal immigrants have come. After leaving the Oval Office, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator John McCain were optimistic about the bill's progress. Schumer told reporters the compromise bill will move ahead, despite not being as wide-ranging as Obama had hoped.
‘And so, we are feeling very good about this. Things are moving in a very, very good way. And the president's support of our proposal, even though he would not fully agree with it, is sort of just the right place to be,’ Schumer said.
After being introduced by Schumer, the immigration bill is to undergo hearings next week. It would likely reach the Senate floor in late May or early June. But it’s expected to face tough opposition in the Republican controlled House.
The bill does not include everything he wanted, but it is largely consistent with his principles for comprehensive reform said Obama in a statement after key senators from the so-called Gang of Eight made up of four Republicans and four Democrats.
The proposed legislation would create such a path of citizenship only after steps are taken to secure the border with Mexico, from where as many as 60 percent of the illegal immigrants have come. After leaving the Oval Office, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator John McCain were optimistic about the bill's progress. Schumer told reporters the compromise bill will move ahead, despite not being as wide-ranging as Obama had hoped.
‘And so, we are feeling very good about this. Things are moving in a very, very good way. And the president's support of our proposal, even though he would not fully agree with it, is sort of just the right place to be,’ Schumer said.
After being introduced by Schumer, the immigration bill is to undergo hearings next week. It would likely reach the Senate floor in late May or early June. But it’s expected to face tough opposition in the Republican controlled House.