WASHINGTON — The White House scrambled Sunday to keep congressional negotiations over immigration reform on track, reassuring senators it did not leak details of a draft bill being written by the administration.
White House aides were caught by surprise when details from a draft of an administration bill were published Saturday, and quickly contacted the eight Republican and Democratic senators who have been working behind the scenes to hammer out a compromise bill.
Obama’s aides stressed in the phone calls that the president is pleased with the progress in Congress and said the administration had not leaked the details to nudge the process along, according to a White House official who asked not to be named describing private conversations.
“This was not the administration floating anything,” the official said, calling the disclosure “unfortunate” and adding that any draft being circulated to federal agencies would be in its early stages.
Obama said last month that he would propose his own legislation only if the Senate drive stalled.
The furious Republican response to the disclosure — Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida called the draft bill “half-baked and seriously flawed,” former GOP vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin called the leak “counterproductive” — highlighted how fraught the negotiations have become.
“This raises the question: Does the president really want a result, or does he want another cudgel to beat up Republicans so that he can get political advantage in the next election?” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
McCain is one of four Republicans, including Rubio, in the so-called Group of Eight along with four Democrats who are trying to forge an immigration overhaul.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), another member of the group, said he was not upset at the leaked draft legislation.
Obama “agreed to give us the space we need to come up with a bipartisan proposal,” Schumer said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I am very hopeful that in March we will have a bipartisan bill.”
Denis McDonough, the newly appointed White House chief of staff, used previously scheduled appearances on several TV talk shows to contain the political damage.
He reiterated that the White House would try to push its own bill only if the efforts in Congress failed to move quickly.
“Let’s make sure that it doesn’t have to be proposed,” McDonough said on ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” adding that the administration is “aggressively supporting” the eight senators.
White House staff have provided technical assistance to the group for three weeks, a Senate aide said later.
Details of the draft bill, which includes an eight-year waiting period before legalized immigrants can receive a green card, were first published late Saturday by USA Today.
The White House did not confirm whether the reported details represented the current version of the draft.
An official who has read the draft said it would allow the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States to apply for a “lawful prospective immigrant” visa and, if approved, ultimately become permanent residents.
The bill also would increase customs officers at ports of entry, and expand other border security measures.
The bill would also require employers to develop a system to check the immigration status of new hires within five years.
It calls for hiring 140 new immigration judges to speed up cases and requires the Social Security Administration to redesign Social Security cards to make them harder to forge, said the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity while discussing internal deliberations.
Those proposals track closely with legislation that failed in Congress in the past, as well as reforms Obama previously proposed.
In 2011, Obama unveiled a blueprint that called for setting an eight-year waiting period for an illegal immigrant to become a legal permanent resident, and an additional five-year delay to attain citizenship.
Immigrant rights advocates described the White House approach as too modest, and said the draft bill would create unreasonable delays for illegal immigrants to achieve legal status.
Gordon Whitman, policy director for the PICO National Network, which represents more than 1,000 churches, called the president’s proposal “too weak” for an opening bid.
-Los Angeles Times
Eight senators, four from each party, have unveiled a bipartisan blueprint for reform. House lawmakers are also said to be working on a bipartisan immigration plan.
64 Comments to “White House Insists It Didn’t Leak Immigration Plan”
February 17, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Go back to your cage monkey boy
February 17, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Brilliant Your parent must be so Proud
February 17, 2013 at 10:13 AM
The US is alread struggling and broke Obama asking for more money every breath he takes from tax payers and Congress Then he plans to add more than 11 million illegal immigrants.
February 17, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Like it or not they are here already, they just aren't allowed to pay tax yet. Big Picture!
February 17, 2013 at 3:54 PM
OOh 11 million more tax payers.
February 17, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Illegal means illegal. We dont need "undocmented criminals" that we have no idea what crimes they have committed in the US.
February 17, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Without documentation no one Knows who the criminals are, there are 11 million undocumented people who are here whether we like it or not that's not making it easy to find the criminal element, by documenting these people we can remove the criminal element.
February 17, 2013 at 10:18 AM
These people will have dual citizenship. Th US is broke. Mexico is wealthy enough to take care of their own.
February 17, 2013 at 4:46 PM
If it was possible to deport all 11 million, and say 8 million were Mexican, the Mexican govt. could not cope, Mexico would refuse entry to anyone without documentation. 8 million Mexicans would have no documentation and , hey presto we are back to where we are. no Brainer we need to document these people.
February 17, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Obama has all this concern and care for milions of illegal immigrants. How about making the same efforts for millions of 'legal' US citizens.
February 17, 2013 at 4:50 PM
He tried with Healthcare reform But the republicans shot down Mitt Romneys only successful plan
February 17, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Really nice looking "mob of illegal criminals" on this little video.
February 17, 2013 at 5:18 PM
You got me there I went back and looked 3 times and I didn't see any angry mob before irealised you were being sarcastic
February 17, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Guess we havent had enough thug muggings at Dodger and Oakland Stadiums and drugs in US parks lately.
February 17, 2013 at 10:49 AM
This is what's wrong with the US we dont have a pot to p#ss in and we give away the pot!
February 17, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Obama is literally taking undocumented illegal criminals carte blanche that Mexico empties from their jails
February 17, 2013 at 11:05 AM
So the we have all these extra trillions of dollars avaiable. Then what's all the fuss and rush from Obama to cut Medicare and Social Security and raise taxpayer taxes?
February 17, 2013 at 5:18 PM
11 million more taxpayers should help
February 17, 2013 at 11:13 AM
If Obama has the money for this "project" he doesnt need to raise tax payers taxes.
February 17, 2013 at 5:19 PM
correct sir 11 million more taxpayers is what we need
February 17, 2013 at 11:45 AM
****This is disgusting we are a nation of laws. What is wrong with Obama?
February 17, 2013 at 5:20 PM
If you we were a nation of laws we would still be British.
February 17, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Obama only cares about the democratic party and getting more votes for them. He could care less about you.
February 17, 2013 at 5:20 PM
Wow I guess you missed the whole election campaign
February 17, 2013 at 12:17 PM
the main reason they came in is to better them self so they think.. but this is not going to work.. for one thing.. they are not about to pay back all that money that they have save or send to there family's just to support them.. THEY WILL NOT PAY THE TAX'S… must find another way..
February 17, 2013 at 5:21 PM
They shouldnt pay taxes they didnt have benefits from but they will pay taxes going forward
February 17, 2013 at 12:26 PM
This country needs more jobs not more people to support.
February 17, 2013 at 5:22 PM
You are correct but all those people with Jobs should at least be allowed to pay taxes
February 17, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Funny I dont see once person from Ireland or England or Germany or China in this crowd.
February 17, 2013 at 3:41 PM
England Here
February 17, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Carlos Slim is the richest man in the world. Mexico is laughing at the US, Obama and our pitiful weak government that soon will be absorbed by Mexico to become part of the Federal Presidential Constitutional Republic of Mexico.
February 17, 2013 at 12:36 PM
This is all part of Obama's plan to screw the United States.
February 17, 2013 at 12:45 PM
All Obama is doing is sending the message to be a criminal because crime pays.
February 17, 2013 at 1:03 PM
So does this mean 11 million US Citizens get to to Mexico for Mexico to support?
February 17, 2013 at 1:06 PM
The US has turned into a third world slum.This is why the rich and famous of our country are leaving. People like Johhny Depp, Brad Pitt, Madonna, Tina Turner, they all take their money and live out of the United States.
February 17, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Why does Obama want to let and encourage people to break the law and enter our country illegally? This is why the US is in shambles with drug runners pulling their boats up in Malibu on California beaches.
February 17, 2013 at 5:24 PM
the majority of the 11 million were here before Obama took office
February 17, 2013 at 3:09 PM
There are approximately 150,000 Native Alaska Inuit people left in the United States.
Under 3 million total combined American Native Indian and Inuit Natives in the entire United States. They are confined to reservations. Seems this situation is less about human and civil rights ad equality than a political move.
February 17, 2013 at 3:40 PM
At last a president with the balls to say "if congress is going to act like children, and sit and sulk about anything that the elected official says, then I am going to make the decisions that the people want and need"
February 17, 2013 at 3:52 PM
This country has gone to hell in a hand basket and BO is making it worse.
Illegals soon will run this country. CA is now populated with Mexicans and Whites are minority.
Come over here illegally and soon you will be a citizen of the U.S. Too bad we aren't the French who actually has grown balls over immigration. Lame
February 17, 2013 at 3:55 PM
We will become like the UK, where the Romania and Polish will overtake the UK. Jobs over there are now given to those folks in their language. They don't even need to speak English. The UK is one step ahead of us and we both will be third world.
I'm sick of illegals coming over here taking jobs, committing crimes, free education, free health care, and then becoming a citizen.
We will end up like Greece, broke. All because of this crap
February 17, 2013 at 5:26 PM
You are correct however the problem is stopping them coming in not how to kick them out.
February 17, 2013 at 4:54 PM
Obama is the worst president since Franklin Pierce who helped the spread of slavery and was arrested while in office for running down an old woman while riding his horse drunk. By allowing illegal aliens into the U.S., Obama is creating a "slavery class." These illegal aliens aren't doctors, nurses, or engineers. They are manual laborers…to become slave laborers for the wealthy.
The U.S. has a Immigration Policy in place. People from all over the world LEGALLY immigrate and LEGALLY become citizens every day. Obama just spit in the face of every American citizen, and every person who struggled to LEGALLY enter the U.S. and LEGALLY become a U.S. citizen. Just like the old lady who was run down by a drunken Pierce, Americans have been run down by Obama who is drunk with power.
February 17, 2013 at 5:45 PM
For anyone who has been to California lately and on the freeways and streets they know what a 'bad' idea this bill really is. Do the politicians really think they can squeeze a few more million Mexicans onto California streets and into California's towns? They better rethink this one because you cant take your kid to school or Mc Donald's or Disneyland in a helicopter everyday.
February 17, 2013 at 5:54 PM
Way to sell out your citizens Obama. Good goin'.
February 17, 2013 at 6:08 PM
We're going to need more prison space, STAT!
February 17, 2013 at 6:49 PM
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS!
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WHY SIGNING THIS PETITION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS!
While every petition, fax, email and phone call against the amnesty is important, signing this petition is by far the most important single thing one of your friends or relatives can do.
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The reason is that signing this petition puts a person into an email system at NumbersUSA that will alert them every time one of their elected officials needs to hear something specific about immigration. Nobody else but NumbersUSA runs a customized grassroots mobilization system like this that constantly gathers information on Capitol Hill about your Members of Congress and then lets you know what they are doing, saying and thinking about immigration policy.
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The New York Times and other mass media have repeatedly stated that NumbersUSA's mobilization network led the efforts that defeated the close-call amnesty efforts of 2007 and 2010. But the forces for open borders are far more powerful today. Please help us by passing along this Petition to everybody on your e-mail list.
- https://www.numbersusa.com/sendfax?id=14372
February 17, 2013 at 7:29 PM
bullshit!
February 17, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Most of the people are here are just complaining about this issue. No concrete facts, only opiinions.
February 17, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Apparently it's easier to go across the globe and take over other countries and control many more millions of people there than we have illegals here.
February 17, 2013 at 8:03 PM
Who's dumb enough to fall for that one? The government will never stop with the excuses.
February 17, 2013 at 7:35 PM
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February 17, 2013 at 7:58 PM
KTLA- Clean up on isle 5.
February 17, 2013 at 8:03 PM
Mexican people who are here legally are just as upset about this as everyone else. There aren't enough jobs to go around the way it is. Where does Obama plan to get jobs for 15 million more people. This is just screwing everyone living in America.
February 17, 2013 at 8:10 PM
Jobs are flooding out while illegals flood in and reproduce in vast numbers. China gets 2/3rds of our jobs and illegals compete with us for what's left.
If you're an American with kids- you and your children's futures don't look so hot.
February 17, 2013 at 8:33 PM
Take away our guns, but, let the illegals get citizenship? So, 1) Come here illegally, 2) bring your drug runners, too 3) do the crimes and then flee to Mexico to keep out of our prisons 4) join gangs and commit all the crimes you want, as an illegal 5) become a US citizen.
Not getting rid of my gun, that is for sure.
February 17, 2013 at 9:00 PM
Geez, & I thought the LAPD was corrupt.
February 17, 2013 at 9:32 PM
Take away our guns, but, let the illegals get citizenship? So, 1) Come here illegally, 2) bring your drug runners, too 3) do the crimes and then flee to Mexico to keep out of our prisons 4) join gangs and commit all the crimes you want, as an illegal 5) become a US citizen.
February 17, 2013 at 9:33 PM
Stop this madnis
This is lame
February 17, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Nobody wants these 3rd world mongrol criminals in our country!……send their ass's to another country…..maybe find one that actually wants them!……..Wonder if MONKEY BOY has even ever been around 2 mexicans in his f*****g life?……WTF……..WE OUGHTA SEND THE BIG EARED 1/2 COON TO MEXICO!……
February 17, 2013 at 10:48 PM
Wonder why they didn't come here during segregation?…….These aren't NORMAL immigrants…..THESE ARE COMMON CRIMINLS, DRUG MULES,FILTHY PEOPLE FROM A FILTHY EVIL COUNTRY……….THE IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME HERE YEARS AGO, DIDN'T HAVE BAGGIES FULL OF DOPE AND TATOO'S ON THEIR F*****G NECKS!!!!!!!!!!!!………..WHY DON'T THESE 3RD WORLD MONGROLS IMMIGRATE TO A COUNTRY THAT ACTUALLY WANTS THEM?
February 17, 2013 at 11:10 PM
It's a pitty to see how much hate there is in all the people that are against this reform, that will bring tranquility to many stablished families and more funds to the goverment ("delayed unreported taxes" and penalties paid by the illegals)
February 18, 2013 at 4:12 AM
Oh you're an illegal alien too. Go back home loser.
February 18, 2013 at 8:30 PM
Immigration reform is also needed for LEGAL immigrants. Educated people who come here legally and follow the rules have a very difficult time. It takes many years on that route, with Obama's plan, it will be faster to come to USA illegally than legally.