Immigration reform is Obama’s life preserver. If he gets legalization of status (amnesty) even without a path to citizenship, it will be a major victory.
And the GOP power brokers always want amnesty. The GOP thinks the base will still vote for them no matter what with the kenyan in the WH. They think they won’t ever get a better time to deliver for their big donors.
What I don’t get is the GOP seem to foolishly believe the Dems will give up the issue if they just do another amnesty. The Dems NEVER give up an issue like immigration to the GOP!
"Under such an amnesty, the formerly illegal immigrants would receive Employment Authorization Documents (EADs, or work cards), legitimate Social Security accounts, driver’s licenses, expanded (though still limited) access to welfare, travel documents enabling them to leave and freely reenter the country, eligibility for affirmative-action preferences, and much more. The only thing they wouldn’t have is a timetable to apply for citizenship, which means no prospect of eventually being able to vote."