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Originally Posted by miami_fan
My point is if both sides are completely interested in both increased enforcement and for changes to the legal immigration system and a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants, there is no political capital to be spent. There is no political risk. There is no actual trade. All you are doing is figuring out how to accomplish both. Given what you offered, I ask my questions more specifically
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Here's my sense of the situation and just going to use generalizations to illustrate. I don't claim the % are accurate.
The bipartisan support is not 100% bipartisan support. So, let's just say 20% of Dems wholeheartedly support Dignity Act and would vote yes as-is. Same for 20% of GOP. The remaining 60% is the political theatre where the political capital needs to be spent.
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Do both sides of the immigration debate want the changes that allow the Dreamers and current undocumented workers to stay and have a path to legalization or not?
Do both sides of the immigration debate want the increased funding for Border Security and imposing mandatory E-verify or not?
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The answer is some, not most ... at this point in time. So, using my illustrative nos. above, 40% are yes, 60% are no.
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Again if the answer is yes. Reform should take about a week and everyone has a nice trophy to present during the election season.
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N/A
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On the other hand, I can't imagine walking into a room filled with people who did not want the Dreamers or current undocumented workers to have a path to legalization and presenting them with the gift of increased funding for Border Security and mandatory E-verify? Same for walking into a room filled with who didn't want increased funding for those things.
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This is where the political capital, "compromise & horse trading" happens. It doesn't need to get the other 60% on board, it just needs to get another 11% on board.
You listed 4 factors. Dems want (1) legalization of Dreamers (2) legalization of guestimate 10.5M+ illegals. GOP wants (3) Border Security. Arguably, neither really wants (4) fool proof E-Verify. But also toss in (5) GOP want additional $35B + $10B for increased border security (6) Both want increased Guest Workers (7) both probably wants O-Visa, enhanced F-1 etc.
Maybe now, possibly toss in (8) aid to Israel and (9) aid to Ukraine. So that's a lot of cards to play with for the theoretical 11%.