Senators: Comprehensive immigration reform coming soon
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OneAmerica/FlickrA November demonstration for immigration reform.
Immigration reform is near, according to a bipartisan group of senators who say they now agree on basic principles — though it's still unclear what those principles are.
A news conference slated for Monday will reportedly address a broad range of immigration issues, including border security and a path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.
On ABC’s This Week, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez said, “I am cautiously optimistic. I see the right spirit. I see things that were once off the table for agreement and discussion being on the table.”
Republican Senator John McCain, also on ABC’s This Week, said the legislation's ideas reflect a bill, which he supported, that failed to pass in 2007.
“It is not that much different from what we tried to do in 2007," he said. "What has changed is, honestly, that there is a new appreciation on both sides of the aisle — including, maybe more importantly, on the Republican side of the aisle — that we have to enact a comprehensive immigration reform bill."
McCain admitted movement on the Republican side was spurred by the reelection of President Obama.
"Look at the last election. We are losing dramatically the Hispanic vote, which we think should be ours, for a variety of reasons, and we've got to understand that," he said.
McCain and Menendez are part of a group of eight lawmakers expected to champion the forthcoming legislation. Democrats Charles Schumer, Dick Durbin and Michael Bennet, and Republicans Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio and Jeff Flake will endorse the bill, the Associated Press reported.
Senators Rubio, McCain, Schumer, Durbin and Menendez will unveil their plan at 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
President Obama has on a number of occasions said he supports comprehensive immigration reform. He's expected to speak in Nevada on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on GlobalPost.
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