I could never understand why the immigration problem had to be solved in one sweeping package of legislation. Why not two or three or even four pieces of legislation? Why not start with border security, making sure that nobody enters our country who is not entitled to enter. After six months or more, if those laws are in place and working correctly, take up the matter of those who are already in our country illegally. The United States is a fair and compassionate country and can find measures that are fair and compassionate toward those working and otherwise law-abiding illegals. Amnesty, of course, is not one of them. Some route to citizenship should be explored and extended. Fines and fees could be waived for those who accept and succeed; deportation for those who don’t. Well, that’s just one idea; maybe you have other ideas that are even better.
IMHO, it is because some PTBs don't want anything to happen. They know that a comprehensive bill will always have something that someone doesn't like, and therefore, always be stalled. Piece by piece action actually has a chance of passing..
“I could never understand why the immigration problem had to be solved in one sweeping package of legislation”
Part of it is vote-pander to two ugly stereotypes at once. First of all the stereotype that if you prefer to reward the law-abiding and punish law-breakers, then you must be a hateful racist because certain laws affect hispanics more than other laws. Secondly, the stereotype that you can get hispanic Americans to vote for you if you ignore crime.
Trust me... many immigrant, hispanic, naturalized American citizens like myself are really put off by this double-insult.
They want to get this off the front burner, as soon as possible. They want next year’s election to be on other issues. That is why there is such a frenetic hurry to try to shut off debate.