Is Boehner getting serious about immigration reform?

While we can only speculate whether immigration reform was one of House Speaker John Boehner’s New Year’s resolutions, there are some signs that he is moving in that direction.  At the end of 2013, Boehner hired Rebecca Tallent, the former adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on immigration and a supporter of broad immigration reform.  Ms. Tallent fought for comprehensive overhauls of the immigration system in 2003 and 2007, albeit unsuccessfully.  She knows the landscape and will likely be able to get things moving.

Boehner has said that he is committed to a “step by step” approach to immigration reform, rather than one big comprehensive bill.  “The American people are skeptical of big, comprehensive bills, and frankly, they should be,” Mr. Boehner told reporters recently. “The only way to make sure immigration reform works this time is to address these complicated issues one step at a time. I think doing so will give the American people confidence that we’re dealing with these issues in a thoughtful way and a deliberative way.”

Mr. Boehner recently criticized the Tea Party opposition during the recent budget deal in Congress which further suggests that he is serious about overhauling the immigration system despite vehement opposition from conservative Republicans.  More moderate House Republicans see immigration reform as essential to gaining the Hispanic vote in the 2016 presidential election. Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for president in 2012, took a hard line on immigration and won only 27 percent of the Hispanic vote.

For more on this subject, see this recent New York Times article.

Immigration reform set to return in 2014

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives wrapped up its work on Thursday with no progress made on immigration reform.  However, both parties gave assurances that they tackle this thorny issue early next year.  Supporters of immigration reform held sit-ins in the Capitol on Thursday and visited with other activists who have been fasting to protest the lack of a vote in the House.

House speaker John Boehner appeared to signal a major break from right-wing conservatives on Thursday after they opposed his efforts to reach a deal with Democrats over the federal budget.  The House has shied away from a comprehensive plan, in favor of a more piecemeal approach.

Experts in immigration reform believe that Boehner is preparing to work with Democrats on the issue in the New Year.  Only last week, Boehner appointed a high-profile immigration expert, Becky Tallent, who worked for senator John McCain when he last tried to pass comprehensive immigration reform under President George W. Bush.  It seems unlikely that Ms. Tallent would have taken the job unless there was a plan in place to move forward on immigration reform in 2014.

The White House has continued to promote reform.  Democrats have hinted at possible concessions they may be willing to make in order to come to an agreement on an immigration reform bill.

Max Sevillia, policy director at the Naleo Educational Fund, said “If Republicans ever want to have a president again, they need to pay attention to the Latinos.”

Let’s hope that the Senate and House make immigration reform a reality in 2014.

For more on this subject, see this article published on Thursday in the New York Times and another one published today in The Guardian.