Florida Democrats Push For Immigration Reform

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Immigration advocates will be joined by U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Joe Garcia in Hollywood on Monday to call on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill.

The Democrats are trying to create pressure on the Republican-led House to vote on a bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally.

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which was authored by Garcia, has almost 200 bipartisan co-sponsors. It also has support from some 650 business organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Democrats say, if passed, the it would reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades.

The act provides an earned pathway to citizenship for millions of people, according Garcia. It also increases in border security, allows nearly two million people who were brought here illegally as children, through no fault of their own, to obtain jobs legally, pay taxes, open bank accounts and not live in fear of deportation.

GOP lawmakers have balked at moving ahead on any legislation in an election year in which Republicans hope to retain the House and retake the Senate.

With comprehensive legislation stalled, President Barack Obama is under intense pressure from immigrant advocates to act on his own to curb deportations and allow some undocumented immigrants to stay here.

Republicans have warned that any such action would poison whatever chances remain for bipartisan cooperation on immigration.

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