S.1 IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT WORKS FOR AMERICA’S FUTURE ACT

In the forthcoming weeks, Sen. Reid and the Democrats and Sen. Rubio and the Republicans will begin to shape their immigration legislation language.  It is an open secret that the legalization of the approximately 12 million undocumented will entirely drive the politics of the legislation, but there is a real opportunity for Congress to fix other immigration policy failures, such as immigration for shortage occupations.  Let’s hope that Congress takes this opportunity and doesn't merely cling to symbols.

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) this week introduced the wordy, Immigration Reform That Works For America’s Future Act.  This Act is the first bill in the Senate, which is symbolic and encouraging.  That having been said, it is only a “placeholder,” meaning that there is no substantive language attached to the bill at this time.  Politicians like Sen. Rubio (R-FL) are beginning to turn their policy statements into textual law that should be voted on by Congress in the next few months.