Immigration reform took another step forward as the Gang of Eight group of senators appeared to reach an agreement on a path to citizenship and border security. The proposal is expected in the next few days.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), who is part of the bipartisan group in the House working up an immigration deal, greeted his colleagues’ proposal with muted optimism.
“I’m a realist,” Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said on The Daily Rundown Thursday. “I don’t think because it’s a bipartisan effort, something that’s rare up here, that the world is going to say: ‘Great job, guys.’ I think both extremes are going to be critical. The important thing is to stay on the issue.”
With both chambers negotiating separate immigration proposals, there is concern over how the two sides will come to an agreement, particularly on the path to citizenship. “We’re on the same planet.” Rep. Luis Guttierez (D-IL), one of the House negotiators, said of the two immigration proposals. “The approaches will be different. The House of Representatives has different considerations than the Senate does and we need to get 218 votes, that’s our goal.”
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