Immigration Gyrations
Capitol Hill gears up for another raucous debate over reform
That's because the political climate has changed radically. McCain and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, both formerly cheerleaders for guest-worker and path-to-citizenship provisions, are keeping mum as they run for president. New Democratic senators like Missouri's Claire McCaskill and Montana's Jon Tester, meanwhile, campaigned against any sort of amnesty for illegal immigrants. Now Sen. Jon Kyl, a three-term Arizona Republican who opposed the Senate approach championed last year by Kennedy, has emerged as the crucial figure being courted by the White House.
A host of positions are shifting rapidly; experts say what emerges could represent a bedrock change in America's immigration philosophy. Kyl and his GOP allies have recently agreed to a provision to give many illegal immigrants legal status if they pay fines and return at least briefly to their home countries, which hard-liners consider a minimum price to pay to come here legally. Disagreements remain about whether temporary workers in fields like construction should be able to stay in the country and become citizens; Kyl has long said he thinks "temporary means temporary" for guest workers. Democrats have also for the first time accepted the idea of "triggers"-border enforcement guidelines that must be met before a guest-worker program could even begin. They've also agreed to reconsider current policies that allow most immigrants to come to the United States only if they're sponsored by a family member who is already here. Republicans would like future candidates to be evaluated on a point system taking into account education levels and English skills. That sort of legislative back-and-forth is likely to continue in the days ahead. Whether it will ultimately amount to a comprehensive reform bill-or just a horror flick-is impossible to determine.
advertisement
