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Schumer proposes delay for blocked immigration reform

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Schumer proposed a fix Sunday for Republicans who are blocking immigration reform because they don’t trust President Obama to implement it fairly: Make the next president do it.

“There’s a simple solution: Let’s enact the law this year, but simply not let it actually start till 2017, after President Obama’s term is over,” Schumer (D-NY) said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“Let’s say to our Republican colleagues, ‘You don’t trust Obama? Enact the law now, but put it into effect in 2017 and we can get something real done for America,”‘ said Schumer, the third highest ranking Senate Democrat.

Schumer said that passing immigration reform will only get more difficult in 2015 and 2016 amid the presidential campaigns.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) last week said immigration reform likely wouldn’t pass this year, mostly due to “widespread doubt about whether this administration can be trusted to enforce our laws.”

Republicans fear that Obama, who has selective implemented provisions of ObamaCare, will ignore border security and interior enforcement measures, while granting legal status to millions of undocumented residents.

Boehner’s office bristled at Schumer’s plan.

“The suggestion is entirely impractical, since it would totally eliminate the President’s incentive to enforce immigration law for the remainder of his term,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel told The Post.

House Republicans last week came up with an outline for immigration reform that was heavy on tough border security and interior enforcement.

They also endorsed legal status for American’s estimated 12 million undocumented residents, stopping short of the 13-year path to citizenship endorsed by Obama and included in a bipartisan Senate bill passed last year.

Schumer defended Obama against charges that he won’t enforce the law.

“He’s deported more people than any other president,” said Schumer.

On the same show, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said some Republicans would be interested in Schumer’s plan.

“In other words, make sure the border is secure, make sure you have a workforce enforcement program that works,” he said, adding that Republicans want to avoid a repeat of the 1986 immigration reforms.

“Last time we did this, where we did provide legalization but didn’t do the enforcement, three million people were legalized and another six million people came illegally,” said Portman. “So I think that’s what Republicans are looking for, is enforcement first.”