But the original version of the Senate Gang of Eight bill, released in April, included several provisions that Democrats and immigration-reform advocates did not like. For example, it would get rid of the diversity visa program — a provision that infuriated the Congressional Black Caucus when the bill was unveiled. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tried to make up for that loss by proposing an amendment in the Senate Judiciary Committee to allot 10,500 merit-based visas for immigrants from African and Caribbean nations. That change was unanimously approved in the committee. And the original Senate Gang of Eight bill restricts the avenues available for Americans to sponsor their family members. For instance, U.S. citizens will no longer be able to sponsor foreign-born siblings for green cards. Those diversity and family reunification issues were the core of Gutierrez’s concerns during Wednesday’s closed-door meeting. Gutierrez told reporters afterward that “we should unify Democrats, we should send a very clear message” and that he urged fellow Democrats “not to give up” on immigration reform.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 17:54:07 +0000
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