WASHINGTON — For Democrats pondering the challenges of overhauling immigration policy during next year's Congress, incoming members like Claire McCaskill provide an early warning.
In a September television advertisement, the Democratic senator-elect from Missouri sat at a kitchen table and looked directly into the camera. "Let me tell you what I believe in," she said. "No amnesty for illegal immigrants."
Democrats presented a largely united front on immigration this year, providing crucial support for a measure that would have allowed illegal immigrants to gain eventual citizenship -- a bill critics attacked as "amnesty." But as the party prepares to take power on Capitol Hill in January, tensions are surfacing over this provision and other aspects of the complex debate.
Though Democratic leaders insist that rewriting immigration law is a priority, they acknowledge that building consensus on how to do that will be tricky. They must deal with competing camps within the party and address concerns raised by core constituencies -- hurdles that could block passage of a final bill.
McCaskill and a slew of incoming House Democrats took stances that, in the shorthand of campaign rhetoric, seemed more conservative on immigration issues than the positions staked out by the party's congressional stalwarts.
Some unions strongly object to Democratic support for guest worker programs that would not allow participants to gain citizenship. Party leaders worry that backing a bill that includes a path to citizenship would alienate some African Americans, who have traditionally competed with Latino immigrants for jobs. And the Democrats will have to contend with a newly energized left wing, which could push to do more for legal and illegal immigrants.
"Just because we have the majority doesn't mean we have enough votes for an immigration reform bill," said Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana). "We're going to have to take the temperature" on how to proceed.
Congressional Democrats earlier this year supported President Bush's vision for a policy revamp, which included tightened border security, a guest worker program and a process to give millions of illegal immigrants legal status.
But Bush faced a revolt in his own party. House Republicans favored their enforcement-only approach and skirted serious negotiations over a Senate bill that embraced Bush's views. The only major immigration bill to emerge from Congress authorized 700 miles of new fencing along the border with Mexico.
