Immigration shoved to back burner as Congress returns

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers return to Congress this week to face decisions on Syria, the debt ceiling and funding Obamacare. Relegated to the back burner is immigration reform, which, going into the summer recess, was a hot topic on Capitol Hill.

With Congress' attention distracted in so many directions, some say the prospects for passage of immigration reform have diminished despite efforts to energize voters and confront wavering lawmakers.

"Immigration has gone to the sidelines for now," said Kyle Kondik, a House expert at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. "Issues like Syria are taking up all the oxygen."

As the clock ticks, advocates say they won't surrender without a fight. They are planning October rallies, including a large gathering in Washington to push House Republican leaders to act.

"We have to be more diligent about passing immigration reform and raising public awareness about its importance," said Margaret Moran, the League of United Latin American Citizens national president from San Antonio.

LULAC and other immigrant rights advocates say the issue will not be sidetracked because of other issues.

"This is what happens in a congressional session. There are a lot of issues percolating for attention," said Crystal Patterson with the Center for American Progress, a liberal-leaning think tank.

Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, which supports a sweeping reform bill, said despite the crowded legislative calendar, the strategy to pass a bill has not changed.

"We always thought our window in the fall was going to be in the middle of October or November," Noorani said.

Votes on Syria, the debt ceiling and Obamacare are expected through September and early October, "so none of those three things, at this point, should get in the way," Noorani said.

Immigration reform advocates say they have sufficient GOP votes in the House to win passage of a bill that would provide a way to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

They point to Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who favors a pathway to citizenship despite intense pressure from tea party groups and opposition TV ads.

His stance is derided by most House Republicans, who have called citizenship for undocumented immigrants "amnesty" for lawbreakers.

Ryan has remained steadfast with national Republicans who favor citizenship and reformed immigration laws, citing religious, economic and GOP efforts to grow the party through outreach to Latinos and minorities.

The Senate passed a bipartisan bill in June that includes a 13-year path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who pay fines, back taxes, learn English and pass criminal background checks.

But House GOP leaders have rejected the Senate bill and vowed a more piecemeal approach to reform.

House committees have passed several bills that address border security but do not include citizenship or legalization provisions.

Groups that advocate lower levels of immigration also have pressured Republicans with TV ads that claim providing legal status to undocumented workers would create more economic competition for unemployed Americans.

The anti-immigration reform groups claim their efforts have been successful in holding opposition to citizenship proposals.

"The legislators are playing it as close to the vest as they can," said Joe Guzzardi, Californians for Population Stabilization national media director. "It's such a contentious issue for them."

While national GOP leaders seek inroads with Latinos and minority groups, the majority of House Republicans represent conservative congressional districts.

Many fear political challenges from the right following the rise of tea party groups in recent elections.

"For individual members of the House, they are being asked to make a vote they don't want to make for the good of the party," Kondik said.

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