Bipartisan Group of Senators Propose Compromise Immigration Reform Plan

Numerous news outlets report that a bipartisan group of U.S. senators has agreed on a plan to grant legal status to eligible undocumented immigrants, which could form the basis for an overhaul of the immigration laws. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), who heads the Senate subcommittee that handles immigration legislation, briefed the White House on Sunday. The eight senators scrambled over the weekend to come to an agreement before Obama unveiled his plan later this week.

At a news conference on Sunday, Schumer noted that "the devil is in the details," but said that he and the other senators in the group had made good progress. The group included Senators Schumer, John McCain (R-Ariz.),  Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Jeff Flake (D-AZ).  So far, the group has negotiated legislative language on implementing the legalization program and on increasing border security. The senators will turn their attention next to details on how to increase the flow of legal immigration to reduce the incentive for illegal border crossings.

KJ