Immigration Reform Blueprint 101

Immigration reform tops lawmakers' to-do list.

Now Is the Time - Comprehensive immigration reform is a top priority for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. A bipartisan group of senators and President Obama have both outlined plans that would modernize the current immigration system and provide what they consider a fair and legal path to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.  – Joyce Jones  (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

1 / 17

Now Is the Time - Comprehensive immigration reform is a top priority for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. A bipartisan group of senators and President Obama have both outlined plans that would modernize the current immigration system and provide what they consider a fair and legal path to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.  – Joyce Jones  (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

How Many Undocumented Immigrants Live in the U.S.?  - As of January 2011, there were 11.5 million undocumented people living in this country; 86 percent have been here for at least seven years. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

2 / 17

How Many Undocumented Immigrants Live in the U.S.?  - As of January 2011, there were 11.5 million undocumented people living in this country; 86 percent have been here for at least seven years. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Immigration Reform - The population growth among Latinos is making them a key electoral demographic. As Republicans try to win their support and Democrats fight to maintain it, the comprehensive immigration reform that didn't occur during Obama's first term as promised will become a top priority. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

3 / 17

Why Is Immigration Reform Such a Hot Topic? - Comprehensive immigration reform is one of Obama's first-term broken promises because there wasn't enough support in Congress. But with the nation's growing Latino voter population, it's an issue they can no longer ignore.  (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Gang of Eight, Plus One - In a rare show of bipartisanship, a group of eight senators introduced this week a blueprint for comprehensive immigration reform. Obama supports the effort and said that "now is the time" to fix the broken system.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

4 / 17

What's in the Senate Plan? - The Bipartisan Framework for Immigration Reform is based on four pillars: a path to citizenship, immigration overhaul, employment verification and worker programs. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama - He gutted Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney with just hope and change, foamy-mouthed creatures would be no big thing for the leader of the free world. Besides, he already fights the zombies in Congress on a daily basis! (Photo: John Gurzinski/Getty Images)

5 / 17

Copy That - In a major speech delivered in Nevada on Jan. 29, Obama expressed support for the Senate plan. He urged Congress to move quickly on crafting and passing a bill. They can't avoid taking a stand, however. Obama said that if lawmakers can't achieve the goal, he'll send them a bill to vote on based on similar principles as the Senate blueprint.  (Photo: John Gurzinski/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
A Path to Citizenship - The Senate plan would create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S. and is contingent upon securing borders. It also calls for greater vigilance of people staying longer than their visas allow. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

6 / 17

A Path to Citizenship - The Senate plan would create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S. and is contingent upon securing borders. It also calls for greater vigilance of people staying longer than their visas allow. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jabin Botsford/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Comprehensive Immigration Reform - Rep. Bob Goodlatte, House Judiciary Committee chairman, says immigration reform will be a "top priority" in 2014. House Speaker John Boehner has hired an expert on the issue and the White House has signaled it would support passing a series of bills. But Democrats and Republicans are on opposite sides of creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, which could be problematic.  (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

7 / 17

Conditions - After certain security measures have been put in place, undocumented immigrants would be required to register with the government. They will have to undergo a background check and also pay a fine and back taxes. Anyone with a serious criminal history will be subject to deportation. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

What About People Who've Been Deported? - Undocumented immigrants who lived in the U.S. before Dec. 31, 2011 can apply for re-entry if their spouse or child is a citizen or lawful permanent resident. Their deportation cannot be due to a criminal reason. (Photo: REUTERS/Alonso Castillo)

8 / 17

On the Fence - Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), who helped craft the Senate plan, has said he will not support any bill that doesn't significantly tighten border security. Since absolute control is not really possible, expect debate over how to define "secure" and measurable outcomes. (Photo: REUTERS/Alonso Castillo)

Immigration - Continue to tighten the border, crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, establish a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants in the country, and streamline the immigration system for families, workers and businesses. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

9 / 17

Amnesty - Critics say the proposals outlined by Obama and members of the Senate will increase illegal immigration. They believe the path to citizenship on the table will be viewed as an open invitation to break the law and get a green card. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Family Matters - Some undocumented immigrants worry that reform could tear their families apart if all relatives don't meet all of the conditions for earning citizenship. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

10 / 17

Family Matters - Some undocumented immigrants worry that reform could tear their families apart if all relatives don't meet all of the conditions for earning citizenship. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT
/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/10/National-10-01-10-15/100412-national-unemployment-unemployed-application-jobs.jpg

11 / 17

Employment Verification - The plan calls for the creation of an employer verification system to end the hiring of undocumented immigrants. Immigrants authorized to work in the U.S. will have to present non-forgeable electronic documentation. Employers who hire undocumented workers will face fines and criminal penalties.  (Photo: AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The Best and Brightest - Many immigrants earn degrees in the U.S. and then take their innovative ideas back to their native countries. The Senate plan proposes to award green cards to immigrants who've earned advanced graduate degrees from American universities in the areas of science, technology, engineering or math. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

12 / 17

The Best and Brightest - Many immigrants earn degrees in the U.S. and then take their innovative ideas back to their native countries. The Senate plan proposes to award green cards to immigrants who've earned advanced graduate degrees from American universities in the areas of science, technology, engineering or math. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A Balanced Approach - If businesses can demonstrate that they cannot find Americans who are able or willing to work in certain low-level jobs in such areas as agriculture, they will be able to fill those jobs with immigrants. The goal is to protect American workers but also meet the needs of those industries. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

13 / 17

A Balanced Approach - If businesses can demonstrate that they cannot find Americans who are able or willing to work in certain low-level jobs in such areas as agriculture, they will be able to fill those jobs with immigrants. The goal is to protect American workers but also meet the needs of those industries. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

What Do Americans Think? - According to several polls, most Americans support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. In an Associated Press-GfK poll published Jan. 22, 62 percent said they support such a plan, up from 50 percent in 2010.  (Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

14 / 17

What Do Americans Think? - According to several polls, most Americans support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. In an Associated Press-GfK poll published Jan. 22, 62 percent said they support such a plan, up from 50 percent in 2010.  (Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

How Will Legal Immigration Rules Change? - The number of H1-B visas for college educated workers and those with specialized skills will increase. But, employers will be required to pay higher wages to H1-B visa employees to discourage them giving preference to foreign workers. (Photo: REUTERS/Charles Platiau)

15 / 17

What's the Status of the President's Temporary Visa Program? - The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program enables undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children a two-year visa. At the end of December 2012, it had received 368,000 applications and granted 103,000 stays. (Photo: REUTERS/Charles Platiau)

ADVERTISEMENT
Will Immigration Reform Pass in Congress? - Not without a great deal of debate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says it will be a top priority and the chamber's Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting legislation in February and produce a bill in May or June. There may not be enough votes in the House, however, to pass a bill.   (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

16 / 17

Will Immigration Reform Pass in Congress? - Not without a great deal of debate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says it will be a top priority and the chamber's Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting legislation in February and produce a bill in May or June. There may not be enough votes in the House, however, to pass a bill.   (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Fear Factor - Immigration reform seems to have risen to the top of most lawmakers' agendas, but some worry that it is just talk. A majority of the districts represented by Republican House members are majority white. As a result, immigration reform, beyond tightening borders, may not be of concern to them. In addition, a 2006 immigration reform bill never made it through the Republican-led House. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

17 / 17

Fear Factor - Immigration reform seems to have risen to the top of most lawmakers' agendas, but some worry that it is just talk. A majority of the districts represented by Republican House members are majority white. As a result, immigration reform, beyond tightening borders, may not be of concern to them. In addition, a 2006 immigration reform bill never made it through the Republican-led House. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)