“This is going to be done or not done this week,” Sen. John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republicans in the Senate, said Monday. “People had better get to work because the clock is ticking.”
A group of senators brought forward a plan by President Donald Trump that provides an estimated 1.8 illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children a pathway to citizenship. In exchange from the dramatic departure on policy, President Trump seeks $25 billion in border security and other changes to the U.S. immigration system.
In order to for the bill to move forward in the Senate, at least nine Democrat senators would have to join with all 51 Republicans to create a 60-vote majority. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) cast the lone vote against bringing a House bill to the Senate floor to being the debate on immigration reform. Senators voted 97-1 in favor of moving the bill forward for discussion.
“Such a policy is inconsistent with the promises that he and Republicans have made to the voters, and is in fact further to the left of President Obama’s position,”
Despite Cruz’ vote on principle, the House bill which will be used as a vehicle for Senate debate will move forward. Debate is expected to begin on Tuesday. The Senate’s supposedly open and lengthy debate on immigration and amnesty will likely come to a quick end on Thursday, leaving both Democratic and GOP groups scrambling to find 60 votes before a Senate recess starts on Friday.