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Comprehensive reform of the immigration system in 2017 appears unlikely, policy trackers and officials told CNN.

"I think it's going to be really limited in scope," said one House leadership aide.

The last time a major reform bill was attempted was in 2013, when a bipartisan bill was passed in the Senate and rejected in the House.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the no. 2 Senate Republican, said he believes the best way to move forward is in small steps. Other immigration issues take priority, he said.

"My conclusion is we're not going to be able to do a big comprehensive bill. We've tried that. It just doesn't work. We need to secure the border and we need to enforce the law in regards to people with criminal records who are illegally in this country. And then we need to have a further conversation," Cornyn told Bloomberg in November 2016.

However, small steps face opposition as well. Democrats want methods for undocumented immigrants who are living peacefully in the U.S. to gain citizenship, while many Republicans are focused on enforcement.

Democrats may face political turmoil if they go along with a President Donald Trump-endorsed plan, such as giving up the call for pathways to citizenship.

"You can't move something that is less controversial, because there is nothing that's immigration that's not controversial right now," immigration attorney Enrique Gonzalez told CNN.

Paying for reforms or enforcement such as Trump's border wall is also at issue: Republicans want a border adjustment tax, and Democrats said that pathways to citizenship could come with fees.

A group of bipartisan congressmen called the Gang of Eight sponsored the rejected 2013 deal. All of them except Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., appears willing to lead efforts to reform the immigration system.

Moderate Republicans in the House are discussing reforms, but one Democratic aide said their work will unlikely be successful without a top conservative on board.

"You would have to have political legs for immigration reform before you even (start) talking about the Gang of Eight membership," the aide told CNN.

On Thursday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., said Trump appeared interested in revisiting the 2013 bill. "He didn't walk away from it. He engaged," Manchin told Roll Call.

However, Cornyn disagreed with Manchin's assessment.

"I've never seen a story spin out of control so quickly The president did express an interest in the topic and that was a little bit of a surprise," Cornyn said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., are focusing on legal immigrants with their introduction of the RAISE Act, which would admit immigration to the U.S. based on skills, not on joining family members.

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Experts: Immigration Reform Unlikely in 2017 - Newsmax.com - Newsmax

Miami Herald

Democrats can horse trade on immigration reform Miami Herald First and foremost, if members of Congress are serious about reducing the national debt, S.744, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill passed by the Senate in 2013, was scored by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office as reducing federal ... Feehery: Dems should make a deal on immigrationThe Hill all 20 news articles »

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Democrats can horse trade on immigration reform - Miami Herald

BY DEAN DeCHIARO AND BRIDGET BOWMAN, CQ ROLL CALL

President Donald Trump may want senators to re-form a Gang of Eight-style group focused on passing comprehensive immigration legislation. But a hyper-partisan atmosphere in Congress combined with the bitter legacy of the last failed overhaul means Trumps wish will likely go unfulfilled.

On Thursday, Trump told lawmakers gathered at the White House he was open to reviewing efforts to revive a comprehensive overhaul bill like the one that passed the Senate 68-32 in 2013. But White House officials said Trump opposes the bill as written. It would have granted most of the 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally a path to legal status.

Despite the presidents opposition to any immigration policy granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants, Trump seemed intrigued by the 2013 bills initial success before it died in the House amid a wave of conservative opposition, according to West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III, who attended the meeting and later relayed the conversation to reporters.

He didnt walk away from it. He engaged, said Manchin. And John Cornyn and I were there. And he said, You guys get together. He said, John you voted against it. He said, Joe you voted for it. He says, Find out, lets see.

But by Thursday night, Cornyn, the Senates No. 2 GOP leader and new chairman of the Judiciary immigration subcommittee, had quickly thrown water on the idea.

Ive never seen a story spin out of control so quickly, he said. There was a discussion about immigration, and the president did express an interest in the topic and that was a little bit of a surprise.

Democrats, including Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer,seemed initially hopeful yet hesitant when asked about the discussion. Schumer placed the onus for action on the Republican majority.

If our Republican friends step up to the plate, we could do something good, hesaid.

But without buy-in from Republicans like Cornyn and Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa not to mention a sizable number of House conservatives staunchly opposed to any measures that include a pathway to legal status for the undocumented the path toward passing comprehensive overhaul legislation is murky and wrought with obstacles.

The typical definition of a comprehensive immigration overhaul consists of bolstered border security, increased enforcement of immigration laws within the United States, new or revamped guest worker programs, and a path to legal status or full citizenship for otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants.

Most Republicans have long-maintained that a legislative package dealing with all four components is a non-starter, instead opting to tackle border security first, then interior enforcement and, somewhere down the line, the possibility of legal status for some but never all of the 11 million undocumented immigrants.

But the 2013 Gang of Eight bill, drafted by four Democrats and four Republicans, sought to tackle all the components at once. Schumer was among the Democrats in the group.

Confidence was high following its passage in what was then a Democratic-led Senate, but hope dissipated after then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia lost a Republican primary to conservative Dave Brat, who ran on a staunch anti-immigration platform.

While several factors contributed to Cantors defeat, Brat said immigration was a key issue that crystallized the differences between the two Republicans. Then-Speaker John A. Boehnerdeclined to bring the Senate bill up for a floor vote.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a Gang of Eight member who no longer supports a comprehensive bill, said Thursday a piecemeal approach advocated by many Republicans remains the best strategy.

I still dont think the votes exist for that [2013] bill, the way it was structured. And ultimately, in order for that to become law, I think well have to in steps. It would be very difficult to pass an immigration law that does it all at once, Rubio said.

With Trump easily swatting away establishment candidates like Rubio in last years Republican presidential primary, the legacy of Cantors defeat and its effect on willingness to take up comprehensive immigration overhaul seemed intact.

At least until Thursday.

Nevertheless, some Republicans in favor of immigration overhaul, including Gang of Eight member Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, still believe in taking on extremists in their own party in order to fix an immigration system widely seen as broken. Graham has said hes prepared to use the 2013 bill as a jumping off point for a new effort to write a comprehensive bill.

Some Democrats are willing to work with Graham and with Trump.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez, another Gang of Eight member, said the presidents anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric and executive order temporarily barring immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations should not deter lawmakers from working with him on immigration.

Just because I dont care for his Muslim ban doesnt mean Im not willing to work with him, Menendez told reporters Thursday. I realize hes going to be here for four years. I want to get something done on immigration reform, and were going to need him.

Ryan Lucas and Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report.

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'Gang of Eight' Revival Unlikely on Immigration Overhaul - Roll Call

If companies can't bring the world's top talent to the U.S.a foundation of the tech industryit's unclear how the U.S. will retain a leadership position.

The chaos resulting from the recent presidential executive order over immigration hasn't escaped anyone. But, beyond the political implications and ramifications, there's growing concern in the tech world about entry bans. Already, companies ranging from Google and Apple to Microsoft and Facebook have had to focus on employees caught in the commotion and potentially unable to travel.

But this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. More than 100 tech firms have signed on an amicus brief opposing the travel ban, according to "Tech CEOs Take a Stand Against Donald Trumps Immigration Order," a story in The Wall Street Journal,

And the list keeps on going. It now includes the likes of Yelp, Square, Dropbox, Uber, Twitter, Netflix, Salesforce and Space X. In addition, Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeffrey Bezos recently said that he supported the lawsuit filed by Washington state's attorney general against the executive order on immigration and refugees.

"The order represents a significant departure from the principles of fairness and predictability that have governed the immigration system of the United States for more than fifty years ...," the brief states. "The order makes it more difficult and expensive for U.S. companies to recruit, hire, and retain some of the world's best employees. It disrupts ongoing business operations. And it threatens companies' ability to attract talent, business, and investment to the United States."

It's certainly not an abstract concept. According to think tank Joint Venture, an estimated 37 percent of the Silicon Valley workforce is foreign-born.

On a separate but related front, there's also discussion about reducing the number of H-1B visas issued. This would impact the number of foreign workers who could work in the U.S.

Again, political issues aside, there's a lot to be concerned about regarding any significant change in H-1B visas. If companies can't bring the world's top talent to the U.S.which has become a foundation of the tech industryit's unclear how the U.S. will retain a leadership position.

Perhaps companies will move some offices out of the U.S. Perhaps they will move the company to a country that offers a more desirable environment. It's not clear how either of these approaches would benefit America or make it "great" again.

Also, if tech companies are forced to hire less than top tier talent to run and manage their operations, it's difficult to envision how they will continue to innovate and stay on top.

That's a no-win situation for everyone.

Samuel Greengard writes about business and technology for Baseline, CIO Insight and other publications. His most recent book is The Internet of Things (MIT Press, 2015).

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Immigration Reform Can Be a Threat to Tech - BaselineMag.com - Baseline (blog)

The politics of immigration in the Senate are shifting in the Trump era.

Sens. Tom CottonTom CottonGOP shifting on immigration Iran, the other 'Islamic State,' turns 38. Let's make this year its last. Cruz: Supreme Court 'likely' to uphold Trump order MORE (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.), two of President Trump's strongest allies in the Senate, want to dramatically cut the number of green cards issued every year by the United States.

The Raise Act, sponsored by Cotton and Perdue, would cut legal immigration annually over the next decade from 1.05 million (the annual level measured in 2015) to 539,000.

It would prioritize skilled workers and the spouses and minor children of citizens and legal permanent residents over people who want to enter the country based on extended family links.

The Cotton-Perdue bill is a sign of the shifting tides on immigration in the GOP Senate.

Republican have worried that opposition to immigration reform could hurt their party with the nations growing Latino and Asian populations. But President Trumps victory in the presidential election seemed to offer a different signal.

Proposals to cut down on legal immigration will draw opposition from much of the business community including Silicon Valley, where for years leaders have called on Washington to increase legal immigration.

And there are opponents in the Senate.

I oppose the idea of cutting green cards," said Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey GrahamGOP shifting on immigration THE MEMO: Trump loses at court so far Overnight Cybersecurity: Senate takes a hard line on Russia | Dems want hearings on Trump's cyber issues MORE (R-S.C.), a member of the bipartisan Gang of Eight that crafted the 2013 immigration bill. It was approved by the Senate but went nowhere in the House.

Graham says the wave of Baby Boomers expected to retire over the next few years and begin drawing Social Security and Medicare benefits need to be supported by a large workforce.

When you look at the 20-year demographics we're facing, we'll have an aging population and a declining workforce, he said.

Sen. John McCainJohn McCainGOP shifting on immigration President Trump and financial regulation: 'the setup' and 'the sting' Trump-McCain feud takes new turn MORE (R-Ariz.) warned the Cotton-Perdue proposal would stifle innovation.

I just don't agree with it, he said.

I think we need more Sergey Brins and people like that who were born outside of this country, came here, received an education and made enormous progress for all of mankind, he added, making reference to the Soviet-born founder of Google.

The question now is whether there is more support in the Senate GOP for the Graham-McCain view of immigration, or whether the Cotton-Perdue side is winning out.

For years there have been signs of a change.

The first big signal came in 2014 when Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), then a little-known challenger, upset former House Majority Leader Eric CantorEric CantorGOP shifting on immigration Breitbarts influence grows inside White House Ryan reelected Speaker in near-unanimous GOP vote MORE (R-Va.) in a Republican primary.

Trump then shocked the political establishment by winning the 2016 GOP nomination and general election. He campaigned on a populist platform that decried the decline of American wages under pressure from immigration.

The Cotton-Perdue legislation is similar to ideas pushed by former Sen. Jeff SessionsJeff SessionsKaty Perry wears 'Persist' armband in Grammys performance Franken says he would have told Trump calling Warren Pocahontas was 'racist' Trump's solicitor general should be the man who took on Bill Clinton MORE (R-Ala.), an early Trump supporter whose colleagues voted to confirm him last week as attorney general.

During the Senates immigration debate in 2013, Sessions offered an amendment to cut legal immigration but was outvoted 17 to one.

Sessions is now one of Trump's closest advisors, and his former spokesman, Stephen Miller, is now senior policy advisor to Trump.

Cotton, who is emerging as a leading conservative voice in the chamber, is picking up Sessions's mantel. And it appears he could win more votes now than Sessions did four years ago.

The shifting politics of immigration is reflected by the evolution of Sen. Marco RubioMarco RubioGOP shifting on immigration THE MEMO: Trump loses at court so far Trump compliments Japanese leader for his 'strong hands' MORE (R-Fla.), a member of the Gang of Eight, who was in charge of selling the 2013 Senate bill to Republican conservatives.

He has gone from being a champion of comprehensive immigration reform legislation to someone who now argues that the reform effort should be broken up into pieces.

McCain, by contrast, has argued that comprehensive reform is still the best way to get needed Democratic votes.

Sen. Jeff FlakeJeff FlakeGOP senator echoes Gorsuch on Trump's judge comments GOP shifting on immigration Puppy mills arent partisan: Animal abuse deserves scrutiny MORE (R-Ariz.) says he is not enthusiastic about the idea of placing lower caps on the overall number of legal immigrants, including highly skilled workers with H1B visas.

He does, however, like swapping out some of the family-based visas for skills-based visas.

Rubio spoke the most positively of the Cotton-Perdue bill of the members of the 2013 Gang of Eight.

As far as the numbers and all that, I don't know there's a magic number. I know the number of immigrants to the United States over the last 30 years is historically high. I'm open about people who think the numbers should be different, he told The Hill.

Republican lawmakers aren't eager for another big debate on immigration, but they may not be able to avoid one.

They expect President Trump to address the 750,000 immigrants who are protected from deportation by President Obama's executive order that set up the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

And Trump urged a bipartisan group of senators he met with at the White HouseThursdayto continue working on immigration legislation.

I don't think there's any appetite for a big comprehensive piece, but some of it is going to be visited upon us, Flake said, citing an impending decision on the DACA children.

Graham and Sen. Dick DurbinDick DurbinGOP shifting on immigration Cruz: Supreme Court 'likely' to uphold Trump order Schumer: Trump should see 'handwriting on the wall,' drop order MORE (D-Ill.), who worked on the Senate immigration bill in 2013, introduced legislation in December to shield them from deportation, but it is not yet scheduled for committee or floor action.

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GOP shifting on immigration - The Hill