Does a New Immigration Reform Bill Have a Chance?

A proposal splitting the difference between Republicans and Democrats faces steep odds.

By
40
A Border Patrol agent walks along a line of migrants waiting to turn themselves in to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents near the Paso del Norte Port of Entry after in El Paso, Texas. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Spending six months hammering out a comprehensive immigration bill they hope offers something for even the hardliners in their respective parties may have been the easy part for Reps. María Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican, and Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat.

For one, little else besides the debt ceiling is getting attention on Capitol Hill right now—even for Salazar just a day after rolling out her bill at a press conference. “We’re talking about the debt ceiling,” she said Wednesday when asked about the bill. “So why don’t you give me a couple of days—because that’s the number one focus.”

But even after the debt ceiling question is resolved, then comes what may be harder than crafting the legislation: building enough support to get the Dignity Act through Congress.

What’s in the Dignity Act?

Join to continue reading
Get started with a free account or join as a member for unlimited access to all of The Dispatch. Continue ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN
40
By