WASHINGTON — The push for immigration reform is running into some Republican resistance.
One of the GOP authors of Senate legislation that would create a “pathway to citizenship” for 11 million illegal immigrants said the measure can’t pass Congress without beefed-up border security provisions.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio made the statement after a tense meeting with conservative House Republicans, who oppose even considering amnesty for undocumented immigrants without tightening up the border.
“We certainly are going to have to do more than what’s in the bill now in order to get the votes necessary to pass the law,” Rubio said.
“Let’s remember, the goal here is not to pass a bill out of the Senate; the goal here is to reform our immigration laws and that requires something that can pass the House, the Senate, and be signed by the president.”
Meanwhile Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) unveiled an amendment that would require the feds to ensure they can apprehend 90 percent of US-Mexico border crossers before granting legal status to illegal immigrants.
House members were also fighting over whether illegal immigrants should receive access to federal health care.
“I think we’re going to be successful. I think we are going to have immigration reform. We just need to do it the right way,” said Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho).
Immigration reform is a tricky issue for the GOP.
A segment of the political base opposes amnesty for people who came here illegally.
But Republican officials — noting the tidal wave of Hispanics who voted for President Obama last year — also want to moderate their stance to appeal to a growing segment of the voting population and help boost businesses that want immigrant labor.