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.
