No. of Recommendations: 9
What's the answer to those republicans saying that the Dems failed to pass such immigration reform over the last two years?
Immigration reform requires 60 votes in the Senate, as does anything else that can't be included in a budget reconciliation package. That would have required all Democrats and 10 Republicans in the last Senate. It would require all Dems and nine Republicans in the new one. Republicans generally support more border security but not the reforms Democrats want as part of a grand bargain.
The best opportunity came in 2013, when the "Gang of Eight" in the Senate -- four from each party -- sponsored a package that included a path to citizenship for Dreamers -- those born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants -- various visa and migrant labor reforms, and 40,000 new border control agents. It passed the Senate 68-32 with all Democrats and 14 Republicans voting yes. The House, then controlled by Republicans under Speaker John Boehner, never brought it to the floor.
Republican members of the Gang of Eight took a lot of heat from their base for their support. John McCain died, Jeff Flake retired, and Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham no longer support a grand bargain like that one.
