Republican strategists see immigration reform as the salvation of their party. Leading Republican senators along with a few Republican House leaders are at the forefront of the amnesty push. So assuming they get their way, how will headlines and news reports read in the future?
November 2013. House Republican Leadership Caves; Path to Citizenship Now the Law
The Senate's comprehensive immigration bill with minor modifications passed the House with strong Democratic support and was sent to the president after Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) brought a conference committee bill to the floor without the majority support of his caucus. Boehner said that passage of the bill takes immigration off the table and ensures that Republican candidates will garner substantial Latino support in future elections. Republican moderates and strategists praised Boehner for his courage in defying the nativist elements of his party.
July 2014. Administration Waives Background Checks for Illegal Aliens
In order to expedite the processing of 11 million illegal aliens' applications for legal status, the Obama administration waived all background checks for undocumented immigrants. "The vast majority of these immigrants are good, hard-working people and it is unfair to prevent them from obtaining immediate legal status due to an inability of law enforcement authorities to complete background checks in a timely manner," an administration spokesman said. Republicans expressed shock at the president's action.
September 2014. La Raza Calls for Defeat of Republicans Who Voted for Immigration Reform
La Raza issued a call for Hispanics to defeat Republican senators and House members who voted for immigration reform. "Republicans who supported immigration reform are primarily responsible for the militarization of the border and for denying legal status to Hispanics who have been unfairly convicted of crimes such as identity theft," said a La Raza spokesperson. "These provisions clearly show the contempt that Republicans have for Hispanics." Senior Republican lawmakers expressed shock that they are now under attack in spite of their support for legalization and a path to citizenship for millions of Latinos.
August 2015. Border and E-Verify Requirements Delayed
The Obama administration announced that the border and E-Verify provisions of the immigration reform act will be delayed indefinitely due to difficulties in getting regulations and contracts in place. When asked when these provisions would be implemented, a presidential spokesperson said, "Soon — trust us." Republicans expressed shock and dismay.
July 2016. DREAMers Accuse Republicans of Making Their Parents Second-Class Citizens
Less than three years after comprehensive immigration passed, the children of illegal aliens are accusing Republicans of making their parents second class citizens by requiring them to wait another 10 years for citizenship. DREAMers are undertaking a massive voter registration campaign to defeat Republicans who refuse to support immediate citizenship. Republicans expressed shock.
September 2016. Democratic Presidential Candidate Calls for Immediate Citizenship for Illegal Aliens
The Democratic presidential candidate sided with DREAMers and challenged her Republican opponent to support immediate citizenship for individuals holding Registered Provisional Immigrant status. "This is a fundamental civil rights issue," the candidate said. "Republicans who do not support immediate citizenship are discriminating against millions of Latinos who have been relegated to second class status." Republicans said they were shocked that this would be brought up in a presidential campaign.
November 2016. Strong Latino Vote Gives Democrats the Presidency
Over 75 percent of Latino voters cast their votes for the Democratic presidential candidate, improving on Obama's 71 percent share in 2012, giving her a close victory in swing states and a clear majority in the Electoral College. The Republican candidate's refusal to support immediate citizenship for millions of Latinos in Registered Provisional Immigrant status appears to have cost him the election. Republican strategists and party leaders expressed shock and called on Republicans in the House and Senate to support immediate citizenship in order to save the party.
February 2017. President Cancels Border Enforcement Provisions
The newly elected Democratic president has cancelled all border enforcement provisions that were included as part of comprehensive immigration reform. "The border enforcement provisions are too costly, they discriminate against Latinos, and they insult our neighbor to the South," said the president. "I have therefore determined that they will not be implemented." Republicans expressed shock while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce thanked the president.
July 2017. E-Verify Requirements Scrapped
The Democratic administration, with strong support from Latino, business, and religious groups announced that E-Verify requirements passed in 2013 would not be enforced. "We cannot slow economic growth by limiting who can be employed and we cannot discriminate against workers who were not covered by the 2013 immigration reform," said a presidential spokesperson. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce thanked the president for "removing this terrible burden on employers". Republicans expressed shock and promised to fight to reinstate E-Verify requirements.
July 2030. Powerful Bipartisan Interests Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
"With over 20 million undocumented individuals in the United States, the time has come for comprehensive immigration reform that will once and for all solve the problem of illegal immigration," said senior Democratic leaders. They were joined in their call for the legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the few remaining Republican Party strategists who see Latinos as the salvation of a party that hasn't won a presidential election or controlled Congress for decades. Republican Party leaders were silent since no one cares about what the leaders of a small, third party have to say.