Rather than proceed directly with a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate immigration bills, House Republicans have chosen to hold a series of public hearings intended to bolster support for the House's enforcement-based legislation. In response, the Senate Judiciary Committee is also holding hearings. Chairman Specter plans to promote the temporary worker program and earned legalization provisions in S. 2611.

The Republican House majority claims that they need more time to assess the proposal and focus on getting a proper bill created without being pressured during an election year. The excuse for more deliberation is absurd given that The House of Representatives previously approved a punitive bill that did nothing to address the nation's need for a supply of labor nor did it deal with he many undocumented immigrants nationwide. All in all, the public hearings only serve as a delay tactic to push House and Senate negotiations beyond the November congressional elections.

This is the latest sign of reluctance amongst the House leadership to negotiate a final compromise bill that would include a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. House representatives favor a tougher border control and workplace enforcement bill and oppose the legalization plan in the Senate's proposal The hearings are designed to build support for an enforcement-only approach towards illegal immigration. Democrats fear that the House decision to hold public hearings on the bill is an effort to stop the Senate legislation and a tactic for The Republican House majority to defeat the Senate bill.

The public hearing will be taking place around the country until the end of August: View List of Public Hearings Here

As a result, the odds are against any compromise bill making it to the president's desk this year. Discussions over the Senate's version of the bill may resume in September at the earliest. The July and August public hearings make it unlikely that a final agreement will be reached before the November elections. When Congress reconvenes in September, most lawmakers will be preoccupied with their campaigns and not focused on addressing Immigration reform at that time.

About the Author: James Root

Root Law Group is a full service, exclusive immigration law firm which handles cases in all areas of immigration and nationality law. James Root, principal attorney for Root Law Group, has dedicated his entire legal career to fighting for and protecting the rights of U.S. immigrants and their U.S. employers. He is proactive in advocating reforms to the U.S. immigration laws and policies, especially those affecting professional workers and their immediate family members.

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