Schumer Confident Pathway to Citizenship Will Pass

Chuck Schumer remains “optimistic” that when Congress returns next month House Republicans will eventually allow some form of a pathway to citizenship in its immigration bill, saying that he sees the “green sprouts” starting to emerge for such a bill. “Republican leadership is talking about things they didn’t before,” he said.

Appearing on Morning Joe earlier today, the New York Democrat predicted that pressure from “economic conservatives” such as the Cato Institute and the Wall Street Journal editorial board will play a role in influencing the House GOP.

Schumer showed no signs of budging on the issue; when asked if he would accept a plan that would give illegal immigrants legal status but not citizenship, Schumer responded, “I don’t think that would be acceptable.”