According to Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), it’s unlikely that his caucus will pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill (CIR) and, as you might have guessed, this is somehow President Obama’s fault.
From the Associated Press
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said distrust of President Barack Obama runs so deep in the Republican caucus that he’s skeptical the GOP-led House would pass any immigration measure. He said a plan that puts security first could only pass if lawmakers believe the administration would enforce it — an unlikely prospect given Republicans’ deep opposition to Obama. [...]
“Here’s the issue that all Republicans agree on: We don’t trust the president to enforce the law,” he added.
Their primary concern should be their ability to pass a bill in the first place. If they can manage that, they also have to pass a bill that could be approved by the Senate which is controlled by the Democratic party.
If they can clear both of those hurdles, which I highly doubt they can, they also have to pass a bill that won’t be vetoed.
It appears that Republicans are intent on passing a bill that primarily focuses on border security while providing token legal status to immigrants that would create a permanent caste of second class residents who are neither illegal or citizens.
Such a bill would never pass the Senate. Whether or not President Obama will enforce it is irrelevant at this point.
(This is beside the point, but not everything is up to the discretion of the president.)
Distrust of the president is a poor excuse for not acting because the ball is not in the president’s court right now, and the Senate already passed an immigration reform bill last year. The ball is in John Boehner’s court, and he says there will be NO path to citizenship.