Immigration Bill 2013: Gang Of Eight May Reach Agreement Following Breakthrough In Plan For Low-Skilled Workers

The bipartisan group of senators -- dubbed "the Gang of Eight" -- tasked with hashing out an immigration bill should be ready to present a plan by the end of the week, according to New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer. The plan will seek to resolve the status of America's 11 million undocumented immigrants and the process of awarding visas to those who hope to find work in the United States, as well as tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border and modify the current system of employee verification.

The AP reported at the end of March that progress on the bill had hit roadblocks on a plan for low-skilled workers, with the AFL-CIO and the US Chamber of Commerce battling over wages for workers in the hotel, construction, and restaurant industries, among others industries. Now it appears that a compromise has been worked out.

The deal is said to involve the creation of a new "W" visa for lesser-skilled workers not working in agriculture. Under the W visa, more foreign workers would be allowed to enter the country during economic boom times, while during tougher times, the number of such visas awarded would be cut back. The minimum number of visas issued would be 20,000 per year, while the annual cap would be 200,000. Those who enter would have the possibility of eventually applying for citizenship. Among workers affected would be housekeepers, landscapers, retail workers and some construction workers. The agreement does not address visas for high-skilled workers or family members. A third of the visas would go to business that employ fewer than 25 people, while no more than 15,000 visas per year would be granted to construction workers. The duty of determining the labor needs of specific industries would fall to a new government bureau -- the Bureau of Immigration and Labor Market Research -- which would make recommendations to Congress and set the annual cap for W visas. Its director would be appointed by the president and confirmed by Congress.

CNN reported that the number of visas to be granted to currently undocumented farm workers might be the final unresolved issue. It's unclear what the specifics of the dispute might be. Previously, in the framework issued by the Gang of Eight as to the goals of immigration reform, agricultural work was recognized as being in need of special treatment due to recent labor shortages.

Senator Schumer had previously expressed optimism at the end of March about the group's chances of reaching an agreement soon, although Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida had downplayed the possibility, saying reports of the group's success were "premature."