Security Debrief

Congress Gears up for Immigration Policy Overhaul – CQ Homeland Security

Congressional debate in the coming weeks is expected to center on efforts to change U.S. immigration policies.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., reached an agreement Tuesday to make immigration a top legislative priority, CQ reported. The Senate is expected to try to pass a measure first in hopes of making it easier for a bill to clear the House, the report said.

Bipartisan support in the Senate for an overhaul of immigration policy has proved elusive. Talks between Sens. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on a bill have all but failed, Roll Call reported. Last month, Graham warned that the passage of the sweeping health care legislation (PL 111-148) would scuttle the plans for an immigration bill. The two senators released an outline of their immigration proposal in a Washington Post op-ed March 19.