President Obama, who has been advocating for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year, recently stated that he is open to a step-by-step approach to immigration reform proposed by House Republicans in order to pass the reform bill. Obama hinted that he is willing to work with senior House Republican members to ensure that the 2013 immigration reform bill can ultimately be passed in the remaining time of this year.
It is reported that Senate Democrats passed legislation in June this year, which includes provisions for border security, improving legal immigration, and pathways for undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States in 2013. However, House leaders have indicated that without support from the "majority of the majority" of House Republicans, this bill will not ultimately pass.
"They are skeptical about a comprehensive bill," Obama stated, but "if they want to break the bill into five parts, as long as all five parts are passed, then the form does not matter. As long as the final result is the same." Obama stated, "Democrats do not want House Republicans to only address part of it first, leaving the more difficult parts still to be completed." Advocates of the bill agreed with President Obama's statement, saying it demonstrates the President's willingness and flexibility in working with the House. House Speaker John Boehner stated a week ago that the House has no intention of holding meetings on the Senate bill, and some bills are being passed step-by-step in the House. Republicans have consistently insisted on their step-by-step reform, addressing immigration reform at their own pace.
In this immigration reform proposal, there are also changes to the minimum investment amount for EB-5 - the minimum investment amount for EB-5 will be automatically adjusted based on the cumulative percentage change in the Consumer Price Index over the previous five fiscal years. While many members of Congress have indicated that the new EB-5 program will significantly raise the investment amount requirements, they also hope that the EB-5 bill will bring more direct job opportunities. "Whether the comprehensive immigration reform advocated by Obama can be successfully completed this year, under the demands of the U.S. economy and real politics, the increase of the $500,000 investment threshold in the EB-5 regional center investment immigration bill is very likely to usher in its revision period," many industry insiders have stated.
