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Sen. Graham Meets with President on Immigration
Press Room
Senator Graham Press Releases
Contact: Meghan Hughes (202-224-5972)
or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
Date: 03/11/2010
Senator Graham Press Releases
Contact: Meghan Hughes (202-224-5972)
or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
Date: 03/11/2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today met with President Obama and Senator Charles Schumer
(D-New York) to discuss immigration. President Obama invited the Senators to the White House.
“We had a productive meeting with the President and provided him with a status report on our work on this issue.
“Our framework remains a work in progress. The President welcomed the framework and indicated that he needs time to review the
structure. We will share our ideas with our colleagues in the weeks ahead, so we can finally solve this difficult problem. The one
goal above all others I am committed to is making sure our efforts break the seemingly endless cycle of illegal immigration once
and for all.
“Senator Schumer and I have explored some ideas on how we could effectively move forward on this issue. This includes living up
to our commitments to secure the our nation’s borders, pushing to move our nation toward a biometric Social Security card to
ensure illegal workers cannot get jobs, creation of a temporary worker program and a rational plan to deal with the millions of illegal
immigrants already in the United States.
“Senator Schumer and I also noted to the President our progress in completing the framework has been slowed by issues we need
his team and him personally to actively engage on. The President committed to help resolve outstanding issues as well as seek
bipartisan support for moving forward. These include ‘virtual fencing’ along the southern border which has proven much more
complex and difficult to implement than originally expected. The Administration must make this a priority as securing our borders is
a confidence building measure in the eyes of the American people. I also encouraged the Administration to become engaged with
the unions on the creation of a temporary worker program which meets the needs of business community.
“I expressed, in no uncertain terms, my belief that immigration reform could come to a halt for the year if health care reconciliation
goes forward. For more than a year, health care has sucked most of the energy out of the room. Using reconciliation to push health
care through will make it much harder for Congress to come together on a topic as important as immigration.
“Senator Schumer and I told the President we will continue to work on this issue. Our immigration system remains broken and in
desperate need of repair. We need workable and enforceable immigration laws that protect our national security and our economic
well-being. Success on a comprehensive solution will require a broad, bipartisan coalition working together. We understand
building that coalition will require time and strong leadership and involvement from the President, the business community, labor
and all corners of American society.”
(D-New York) to discuss immigration. President Obama invited the Senators to the White House.
“We had a productive meeting with the President and provided him with a status report on our work on this issue.
“Our framework remains a work in progress. The President welcomed the framework and indicated that he needs time to review the
structure. We will share our ideas with our colleagues in the weeks ahead, so we can finally solve this difficult problem. The one
goal above all others I am committed to is making sure our efforts break the seemingly endless cycle of illegal immigration once
and for all.
“Senator Schumer and I have explored some ideas on how we could effectively move forward on this issue. This includes living up
to our commitments to secure the our nation’s borders, pushing to move our nation toward a biometric Social Security card to
ensure illegal workers cannot get jobs, creation of a temporary worker program and a rational plan to deal with the millions of illegal
immigrants already in the United States.
“Senator Schumer and I also noted to the President our progress in completing the framework has been slowed by issues we need
his team and him personally to actively engage on. The President committed to help resolve outstanding issues as well as seek
bipartisan support for moving forward. These include ‘virtual fencing’ along the southern border which has proven much more
complex and difficult to implement than originally expected. The Administration must make this a priority as securing our borders is
a confidence building measure in the eyes of the American people. I also encouraged the Administration to become engaged with
the unions on the creation of a temporary worker program which meets the needs of business community.
“I expressed, in no uncertain terms, my belief that immigration reform could come to a halt for the year if health care reconciliation
goes forward. For more than a year, health care has sucked most of the energy out of the room. Using reconciliation to push health
care through will make it much harder for Congress to come together on a topic as important as immigration.
“Senator Schumer and I told the President we will continue to work on this issue. Our immigration system remains broken and in
desperate need of repair. We need workable and enforceable immigration laws that protect our national security and our economic
well-being. Success on a comprehensive solution will require a broad, bipartisan coalition working together. We understand
building that coalition will require time and strong leadership and involvement from the President, the business community, labor
and all corners of American society.”
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situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.
Immigration reform back on Obama's radar
By DENA BUNIS
2010-03-12 15:48:07
Orange County Register
2010-03-12 15:48:07
Orange County Register
The phrase "from the frying pan into the fire'' comes to mind when thinking about President Barack Obama's meetings this past
week on immigration reform with advocates and lawmakers. The president seems on the verge of getting a health care bill,
although it's a little dangerous to say that as Democrats still haven't nailed down the votes.
You'd think after the beating he's taken on this signature domestic policy issue that he might want to, oh take a rest, lay low, tackle
something a little easier. But as Obama keeps saying in speeches he's given on health care around the country: he didn't run for
president to do the easy things.
Welcome to immigration Mr. President.
Whether it truly becomes game on for immigration will most likely depend on whether South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham can
cajole a fellow Republican to co-sponsor a bill with him and New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who chairs the
immigration subcommittee.
Graham has become the designated Republican for Democrats to work with. He's also working with Sen. John Kerry on climate
change. Graham is already in some hot water with fellow GOPers for even venturing into these areas. Maybe that's why he talked
tough after his meeting with Obama on Thursday. He said he told the president that if Democrats push through health reform with a
parliamentary maneuver called reconciliation, there's no chance for immigration to happen this year.
(You'll remember that using reconciliation means Democrats would only need 50 votes plus Vice President Joe Biden to pass the
fixes to health reform House Democrats are insisting upon).
So far no other Republican has stepped forward on immigration. And insiders say they likely will not sign on to what Schumer and
Graham are proposing until they see the details on paper.
Obama also met with a group of advocates from labor, the clergy and immigration rights group on Thursday before sitting down with
Schumer and Graham to review their plan. After the meetings he put out a statement saying his commitment to reform was
"unwavering.'' He talked about "moving forward" and "progress" but made no guarantees about whether he'll go to the mat on this.
What's the plan?
In a town where stuff like this usually quickly leaks, the senators are keeping their blueprint under wraps. Some things are obvious.
They almost certainly are going to include a plan to legalize the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here now. But advocates
expect the plan to include some tough hoops for the undocumented to jump through before being allowed to get legal status.
There will be something to make sure that employers have as foolproof a way as possible to ensure that they are hiring legal
workers. Schumer wants a biometric identity card of some sort – perhaps a new beefed-up Social Security Card.
What's still to be sorted out is how the bill will deal with bringing future low-skilled foreign workers to the U.S.
Republicans want a temporary worker program. In fact Sen. John McCain, long a supporter of immigration reform, said any bill
without one would be a non-starter.
But organized labor is not keen on bringing in temporary workers who not only would compete with their members for jobs but
because they would be "temporary" they wouldn't be future union members.
So Schumer and Graham asked the president to help resolve this sticky issue. Even if all of that is worked about and there's a bill
on the table, getting this done is a long shot at best. The reasons are almost too numerous to mention.
First, Democrats are in an incredibly weak position politically right now. It's not clear how many are willing to take on an issue that is
so emotional and politically-charged.
In the Senate, which would likely act first, there are at least a handful of Democratic no votes. So Schumer would need Republicans
to give him the 60 votes needed to bust the inevitable GOP filibuster.
Beyond that is the question of whether supporters can drum up the public support needed to overcome what is has traditionally
been a loud and emotionally-charged campaign by those who strongly oppose any law that would give benefits to people who are
here illegally.
Public backing for immigration reform peaked in 2006 when millions marched all across the country. In Orange County young
people left school and demonstrated in the streets of Santa Ana. Still, no bill passed.
In 2007 advocates tried again. But by then the visible public interest didn't seem to be there. Again, no bill passed.
Supporters are well aware they are going to have to marshal 2006-type support and more to jumpstart this issue.
They have decided to start Sunday, March 21st with a march on Washington.
One wonders how much impact a march on a Sunday when lawmakers are not in town will have. But organizers say their people
can't come out on week days because they work.
In 2006 and 2007 backers of immigration reform blamed President George W. Bush for the bill's failure. While Bush said he
supported the bill and sent cabinet members to Capitol Hill to try and get a deal done, he did not personally work the phones and
put the muscle behind the bill that might have put it over the finish line.
So now we're back to Obama. Unlike Bush, his party controls both chambers of Congress.
For an immigration bill to have any chance Obama is going to have to not only make phone calls, invite lawmakers he thinks he can
persuade to the White House but take his show on the road and persuade average Americans that this is something they should
care about and tell their lawmakers to vote for.
We'll be watching.
week on immigration reform with advocates and lawmakers. The president seems on the verge of getting a health care bill,
although it's a little dangerous to say that as Democrats still haven't nailed down the votes.
You'd think after the beating he's taken on this signature domestic policy issue that he might want to, oh take a rest, lay low, tackle
something a little easier. But as Obama keeps saying in speeches he's given on health care around the country: he didn't run for
president to do the easy things.
Welcome to immigration Mr. President.
Whether it truly becomes game on for immigration will most likely depend on whether South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham can
cajole a fellow Republican to co-sponsor a bill with him and New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who chairs the
immigration subcommittee.
Graham has become the designated Republican for Democrats to work with. He's also working with Sen. John Kerry on climate
change. Graham is already in some hot water with fellow GOPers for even venturing into these areas. Maybe that's why he talked
tough after his meeting with Obama on Thursday. He said he told the president that if Democrats push through health reform with a
parliamentary maneuver called reconciliation, there's no chance for immigration to happen this year.
(You'll remember that using reconciliation means Democrats would only need 50 votes plus Vice President Joe Biden to pass the
fixes to health reform House Democrats are insisting upon).
So far no other Republican has stepped forward on immigration. And insiders say they likely will not sign on to what Schumer and
Graham are proposing until they see the details on paper.
Obama also met with a group of advocates from labor, the clergy and immigration rights group on Thursday before sitting down with
Schumer and Graham to review their plan. After the meetings he put out a statement saying his commitment to reform was
"unwavering.'' He talked about "moving forward" and "progress" but made no guarantees about whether he'll go to the mat on this.
What's the plan?
In a town where stuff like this usually quickly leaks, the senators are keeping their blueprint under wraps. Some things are obvious.
They almost certainly are going to include a plan to legalize the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here now. But advocates
expect the plan to include some tough hoops for the undocumented to jump through before being allowed to get legal status.
There will be something to make sure that employers have as foolproof a way as possible to ensure that they are hiring legal
workers. Schumer wants a biometric identity card of some sort – perhaps a new beefed-up Social Security Card.
What's still to be sorted out is how the bill will deal with bringing future low-skilled foreign workers to the U.S.
Republicans want a temporary worker program. In fact Sen. John McCain, long a supporter of immigration reform, said any bill
without one would be a non-starter.
But organized labor is not keen on bringing in temporary workers who not only would compete with their members for jobs but
because they would be "temporary" they wouldn't be future union members.
So Schumer and Graham asked the president to help resolve this sticky issue. Even if all of that is worked about and there's a bill
on the table, getting this done is a long shot at best. The reasons are almost too numerous to mention.
First, Democrats are in an incredibly weak position politically right now. It's not clear how many are willing to take on an issue that is
so emotional and politically-charged.
In the Senate, which would likely act first, there are at least a handful of Democratic no votes. So Schumer would need Republicans
to give him the 60 votes needed to bust the inevitable GOP filibuster.
Beyond that is the question of whether supporters can drum up the public support needed to overcome what is has traditionally
been a loud and emotionally-charged campaign by those who strongly oppose any law that would give benefits to people who are
here illegally.
Public backing for immigration reform peaked in 2006 when millions marched all across the country. In Orange County young
people left school and demonstrated in the streets of Santa Ana. Still, no bill passed.
In 2007 advocates tried again. But by then the visible public interest didn't seem to be there. Again, no bill passed.
Supporters are well aware they are going to have to marshal 2006-type support and more to jumpstart this issue.
They have decided to start Sunday, March 21st with a march on Washington.
One wonders how much impact a march on a Sunday when lawmakers are not in town will have. But organizers say their people
can't come out on week days because they work.
In 2006 and 2007 backers of immigration reform blamed President George W. Bush for the bill's failure. While Bush said he
supported the bill and sent cabinet members to Capitol Hill to try and get a deal done, he did not personally work the phones and
put the muscle behind the bill that might have put it over the finish line.
So now we're back to Obama. Unlike Bush, his party controls both chambers of Congress.
For an immigration bill to have any chance Obama is going to have to not only make phone calls, invite lawmakers he thinks he can
persuade to the White House but take his show on the road and persuade average Americans that this is something they should
care about and tell their lawmakers to vote for.
We'll be watching.
