Obama prepares plan B on immigration reform despite resistance from Republicans

Immigration reform ress conference

In case the bipartisan congressional panel fails to push the bill on immigration reform which the United States government has been working on, the White House has drafted a contingency plan.

Denis McDonough, chief of staff of the White House said the administration expects the initiative  the members of the Republican and Democratic parties are negotiating is acceptable, but he wants an alternative.

“We are doing exactly what the president said last month (…).  we are preparing ourselves.  We’ll be ready,” said McDonough to ABC.

USA Today  reported that the government’s plan would allow illegal immigrants to become permanent residents in eight years. In addition, the draft would  offer more funds for security and require that companies verify the legal status of new employees in four years. It also noted that the undocumented could apply for the new visa “Immigrant Legal Perspective.”

If the text is approved, immigrants could apply the same legal status for spouses or children living abroad, according to the draft.

Politicians on both sides are eager to advance on this reform, after seeing the great influence of the Latino vote in the re-election of President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies in November last year.