Rep. Luis Gutirrez to Democrats: Pay 'ransom' to get immigration reform

[DonViejo]

"I don’t know if we have to give them a wall … but we’re going to have to sit down and negotiate," he said.

Dec. 28, 2018 / 5:14 AM EST

By Suzanne Gamboa

WASHINGTON — Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, the Illinois Democrat and immigration champion whose zealous advocacy has at times irked colleagues and presidents from his own party, exits Congress with this advice to newcomers: Pay whatever "ransom” is necessary to get immigration reform.

As Gutiérrez, 65, closes out a 26-year career in Congress, 10.7 million people are living in the United States without legal status and facing far greater obstacles to gaining it.

“For my friends on the left, remember, there’s going to be a ransom that is going to be required,” Gutiérrez said of getting a comprehensive immigration overhaul measure passed in Congress. "Pay it. It’s the right thing to do, because we’re never going to be able to overcome the 60 votes in the Senate.”

“There are people on the right that are going to want certain things," he said in an interview with NBC News. "I don’t know if we have to give them a wall … but we’re gonna have to sit down and negotiate."

Gutiérrez made his comments before the clash between Democratic leaders and President Donald Trump over the $5 billion that Trump is demanding for a wall on the southern border led to the current government shutdown.

more
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/rep-luis-guti-rrez-democrats-pay-ransom-get-immigration-reform-n950781?cid=public-rss_20181228

[no_hypocrisy]

1. What I believe Rep. Gutirrez is missing:

Trump takes no prisoners. He doesn't negotiate. He dictates.

Congressional Dems *could* pay a "ransom" with the expectation of immigration reform -- and Trump will be chuckling "Suckers!"

[sharedvalues]

2. Eliminate the filibuster!!!!

Remove the 60 vote requirement.
Then pass it.

Dems MUST eliminate the legislative filibuster as the GOP did for judges. They did the same, we must have no compunction. Eliminate the legislative filibuster.

[LakeVermilion]

3. Currently, the Republicans control the filibuster in the Senate...

There is no filibuster in the House.

Just sayin'.

[sharedvalues]

18. When Dems take the senate- commit to ending the filibuster

In 2020 we are going to take the Senate.
Dems must commit to ending the legislative filibuster then.
Too many Dems- even great ones like Sheldon Whitehouse - want to keep the filibuster.

[still_one]

4. NO!!! Where has Representative Gutirrez been for the last 20 years? They do NOT want to negotiate

Enough is enough already. It is time to take a stand

I am really getting tired of the media, and some politicians saying it is up to the Democrats to negotiate.

REALLY?

Why isn't it up to the REPUBLICANS to negotiate?

If you are hell bent on negotiating this wall, how about using Medicare For All as the negotiation for allowing his stupid wall?

If you are going to negotiate, you go big with something that will help the most people

Realistically, they won't negotiate that, and it is about time to recognize that you are not dealing with honest people. They have no integrity

[Hermit-The-Prog]

11. let Repukes reach across the aisle for a change

In M$M tv land, it's always the fault of Dems.

[still_one]

12. Exactly

[Hugin]

5. Appeasement is for cucks.

Is likely what the Republicans are saying behind the scenes.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. You Cannot Negotiate With Someone. . .

. . .who considers reneging a strategy.

[Bettie]

7. Negotiation is only a valid tactic

when both sides come at it in good faith.

There is no current Republican congresscritter who will do that. Their idea of negotiation is to demand and then, if they get a little bit, demand more and more until the deal falls apart and then blame the other side for not "cooperating".

[UniteFightBack]

15. +1000

[Gothmog]

8. Stephen Miller blocked last deal

trump's idea of immigration reform is to get rid of "chained migration", the visa lottery and all asylum claims.

[DonViejo]

9. So if the GOP says, "no statehood for Puerto Rico if we pass your immigration bill," that's okay?

[LiberalFighter]

10. He forgets that an idiot is the current president.

[Autumn]

13. No. Hell no. Why pay a ransom to fucking assholes who won't do their job?

Fuck them. No wall.

[spanone]

14. If there was an honorable man in the White House that might work.

[Caliman73]

16. He is wrong on this one.

I like Gutierrez. He certainly has been fierce in Congress but he is wrong on this issue. As most other responses have indicated, you cannot make deals with people who have a history of negotiating in bad faith. Trump has not intention of doing anything that benefits non-White immigrants in any way. DACA is safe for now with the courts continuing to slap Trump down. Republicans and Trump do not want any kind of comprehensive immigration reform because that will take their only really "drive up the base" issue off the table. If a comprehensive reform bill is signed then how will Republicans rile up the racists? They will not do it, even for Trump's wall. The majority of people see the shut down as Trump's fault and as the Democrats take charge in about 6 days, they can take control of the messaging by sending bills that the Senate has to hold up, or Trump has to veto. Now is not the time to cave in and accept Republican deceit.

[BeckyDem]

17. No. After two years of the con man, he still doesn't get this guy.