Immigration Reform Isn’t Dead Yet

By Bloomberg Editorial

What are the prospects that the U.S. House of Representatives will pass useful immigration legislation? Republican Representative Tom Cole, a close ally to the House leadership, expressed a kind of cautious pessimism last week. “We’re not sure we can chew gum, let alone walk and chew gum,” Cole told the Hill newspaper.

It’s hard to dispute Cole’s low opinion of the House’s competence. But House leaders are under increasing pressure to act on immigration from business groups as well as immigration activists. Internal political pressures may mount as well. After the government shutdown fiasco, some Republican representatives are newly vulnerable. Their re-election could be further threatened if Speaker John Boehner continues catering to the far right by refusing to bring immigration legislation to the floor.

Polls show broad public support for reform, including a path to citizenship for the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. President Barack Obama supports it, too, and the Senate, in June, passed such a bill 68-32 — a thumping bipartisan victory.

Obstacles abound, of course, but a few potential pathways to success can still be discerned.

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[Photo by bjackrian]

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