With legislators close to an immigration compromise to strengthen border security in the Senate’s immigration bill, one of the amendment’s chief sponsors says wary skeptics will be pleased with the agreement.
“For people who are concerned about security, once they see what is in this bill, it’s almost overkill,” Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker said on Thursday’s The Daily Rundown.
Corker wouldn’t divulge any specifics on the amendment he and Republican Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota will propose later on Thursday, but Senate aides have told NBC News the compromise would double the size of the border patrol, require 700 miles of border fencing and improve the E-Verify program.
“We’re still vetting some of the issues,” said Corker.
Corker and Hoeven have been working with other Gang of Eight members to ramp up border security measures in the bill, hoping it can pass the Senate by a strong margin and give the legislation momentum as it heads to the House.
Still, the Tennessee senator sounded hopeful for the future of the bipartisan immigration bill, even thought it’s close to moving to the divided House GOP.
“My sense is we have the best chance we’ve ever had to pass meaningful reform,” said Corker.
Jessica Taylor