By Mary Orndorff Troyan | Gannett Washington Bureau
House Republicans will begin pursuing their own path to immigration reform this week, with proposals to provide legal labor to farmers and to require that employers use an electronic system to check workers’ immigration status.
Two key Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, say they plan to hash out individual immigration issues one by one instead of crafting a single, sweeping immigration reform plan, as the Senate has done.
Goodlatte, who chairs the Judicary Committee, and Gowdy, who chairs its subcommittee on immigration, told reporters Thursday their approach is meant to produce results. They denied criticisms they want to obstruct momentum on legislation designed to secure the border and address the status of the nation’s estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.
“This process can be long, but it allows every representative and senator to have their constituents’ voices heard,” Goodlatte said. “Making sure we take our time is an important part of this process.”
