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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday that the Obama administration will have to act alone on stemming deportations if the House doesnt move on immigration reform by this summers end.

The comments from Reid appeared to be the most definitive that the Senates top Democrat has given on the politically thorny question of whether the administration should use executive authority to halt deportations. Thats a top demand of pro-reform advocates, particularly from those who are skeptical the House will end up doing anything on immigration this year.

The issue for Reid, as it is for other Democrats, is timing. Senate Democrats believe there is a narrow window of about six weeks this summer from mid-June to the end of July for the GOP-led House to move immigration bills, and they want the focus during that period to be on Republican lawmakers, not the administration.

(Also on POLITICO:GOP blocks immigration proposals)

Weve waited 329 days, were willing to wait another six weeks, Reid said Thursday, referring to the number of days that have passed since his chamber passed a comprehensive reform bill. But at the end of six weeks, if something hasnt been done, then theres gonna have to be a move made. And its too bad we have to do that, because we all know things can be done administratively, but its better to change the law.

Reid said the best solution on immigration is a sweeping rewrite led by Congress. He endorsed an idea first floated by one of his top deputies, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.): Pass a bill this year, but have it take effect in January 2017 when a new president moves into the White House.

That is meant to take aim at a chief criticism from House Republicans: They dont trust President Barack Obama to implement an immigration bill.

(Also on POLITICO:Dems seek Obama midterm strategy)

If Republicans dont trust President Obama, lets give them a chance to implement the bill under President Rand Paul or President Theodore Cruz, Reid said, referring to two current Republican senators who are potential presidential contenders in 2016. (Cruzs first name is actually Rafael.)

To be clear, delaying immigration reform is not my preference, Reid continued. But I feel so strongly that this bill needs to get done Im willing to show flexibility.

Go here to see the original:
Reid: Immigration may belong to W.H.

There are just under 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States today. And the number of illegal immigrants is growing, according to U.S. Border Patrol estimates. That means immigration reform may become a priority again.

Lenny Ignelzi, AP

Enlarge photo

There are just under 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States today, according to figures released last year by the Pew Research Hispanic Trends Center. And the number of illegal immigrants is growing, according to U.S. Border Patrol estimates. That means immigration reform may become a priority again.

It is about time. This is a problem Congress should have addressed long ago. Instead, it has left the issue largely to the president.

In response, President Obama has acted to address illegal immigration, although there is only so much he can do. One way he has acted is through deportation. His administration has deported an estimated 2 million illegal immigrants, a dramatic increase over the Bush presidency. Indeed, critics have named him deporter in chief.

Yet, those deportations have been targeted. According to the Migration Policy Institute, 75 percent of those deported during the Obama administration have been convicted criminals. Moreover, the deportation effort primarily is a border activity. In 2013, nearly two-thirds of deportations were of people who were in the process of entering the U.S. illegally. Those who already live in the U.S., and have no criminal record, are unlikely to be deported today. Again according to the Migration Policy Institute, 85 percent of those flagged by the Immigration and Naturalization Services for possible deportation were not deported, primarily because they lacked a criminal record.

But these figures still suggest that a group of people constituting over 3 percent of the nations population is operating without legal status within the United States. These people are the most vulnerable to exploitation by bad employers. Plus, many still avoid government for fear of exposure. The Obama administrations more humane approach to deportation has not resolved these problems.

What should be done?

One proposal is to provide a route to permanent residency and citizenship. This is controversial because while many consider this a compassionate step to integrating immigrants into society, others view it as a reward for illegal behavior. Indeed, it is a sticking point that has stalled immigration reform in Congress.

Original post:
Richard Davis: Find the common ground on immigration reform

No one saw this coming. The pundits had declared immigration reform dead for this year. On the U.S. Senate floor earlier this month, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, who sponsored the bill that cleared the Senate last June, blamed Iowas Steve King for calling the shots against the bill in the House.

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