Obama eyes new push on immigration reform

WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama has met with two senators in an attempt to revive an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws, people familiar with the discussions said.

During the meeting earlier this week, Obama and his Domestic Policy Council outlined ways to advance the effort with Sens. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who have worked jointly for months to craft a bill, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

A person knowledgeable about the meeting said the White House may ask Schumer and Graham to try to develop a blueprint that could become a bill.

Provisions would include a path toward U.S. citizenship for the approximately 10.8 million people living in the country illegally, the White House said. The path would require undocumented workers to register, pay taxes and pay a penalty for violating the law. Failure to comply could lead to deportation.

The lingering debate on healthcare has lead to some wariness on the part of Democrats about tackling another polarizing issue, the Times said.

"Right now we have a little problem with the 'Chicken Little' mentality: The sky is falling and consequently we can't do anything," Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., told the newspaper.

Republicans also said they weren't inclined to cooperate, particularly since Obama signaled this week he would push ahead with passage of a healthcare bill with or without GOP support, the newspaper said..

"The things you hear from the administration won't be well received," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said.