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| House Votes to Ease Visa Limits for Some Foreign Workers | House Votes to Ease Visa Limits for Some Foreign Workers |
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| WASHINGTON — A divided House of Representatives voted Friday to ease visa restrictions for a limited pool of foreign workers, previewing a fight over how far Congress should go in changing the country’s immigration laws. | WASHINGTON — A divided House of Representatives voted Friday to ease visa restrictions for a limited pool of foreign workers, previewing a fight over how far Congress should go in changing the country’s immigration laws. |
| Leaders of both parties believe the issue will be one of the biggest they will face after the new Congress convenes in January, pitting lawmakers who want a more sweeping immigration overhaul against those who think an incremental approach stands the best chance of passing both houses. | Leaders of both parties believe the issue will be one of the biggest they will face after the new Congress convenes in January, pitting lawmakers who want a more sweeping immigration overhaul against those who think an incremental approach stands the best chance of passing both houses. |
| The bill the House approved by a vote of 245 to 139 — with just 27 Democrats supporting it — stands little chance of advancing in the Senate, where Democrats have control. And the White House has come out in opposition to the bill, calling it too “narrowly tailored” and incompatible with President Obama’s vision for a more comprehensive approach. | The bill the House approved by a vote of 245 to 139 — with just 27 Democrats supporting it — stands little chance of advancing in the Senate, where Democrats have control. And the White House has come out in opposition to the bill, calling it too “narrowly tailored” and incompatible with President Obama’s vision for a more comprehensive approach. |
| Looming over the House vote was a stark political reality: Republicans received just a sliver of the Hispanic vote in the elections last month, and the party is divided over how best to improve its standing with such a large and growing demographic. | Looming over the House vote was a stark political reality: Republicans received just a sliver of the Hispanic vote in the elections last month, and the party is divided over how best to improve its standing with such a large and growing demographic. |
| Some Republicans are eager to move forward with legislation that would tighten border controls but also start paving a path to citizenship for some of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now in the United States, a move that could help reverse impressions among Hispanics that the party is hostile to immigrants. But many are also wary of the furor that could arise among conservative voters over any perceived softness on those who are here illegally. | Some Republicans are eager to move forward with legislation that would tighten border controls but also start paving a path to citizenship for some of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now in the United States, a move that could help reverse impressions among Hispanics that the party is hostile to immigrants. But many are also wary of the furor that could arise among conservative voters over any perceived softness on those who are here illegally. |
| Some leading Republicans have become more vocal about their desire to see immigration legislation pass, albeit in a nuanced fashion. Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader, published an op-ed article in multiple newspapers this week making an economic argument to pass the House bill. | Some leading Republicans have become more vocal about their desire to see immigration legislation pass, albeit in a nuanced fashion. Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader, published an op-ed article in multiple newspapers this week making an economic argument to pass the House bill. |
| “Entrepreneurship and job creation won’t kick into high gear until businesses have the workers they need to drive growth and innovation,” he wrote, “and immigrants have always been a key part of the equation.” | “Entrepreneurship and job creation won’t kick into high gear until businesses have the workers they need to drive growth and innovation,” he wrote, “and immigrants have always been a key part of the equation.” |
| The House bill, which would provide for 55,000 visas for foreign graduates of American universities who have doctoral and master’s degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, was an attempt to reconcile the concerns within the party. And some Republicans acknowledged its shortcomings. | The House bill, which would provide for 55,000 visas for foreign graduates of American universities who have doctoral and master’s degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, was an attempt to reconcile the concerns within the party. And some Republicans acknowledged its shortcomings. |
| “It is not the panacea,” said Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, who represents a stretch of South Florida west of Miami. “It does not solve all the problems. But it takes a huge step.” | “It is not the panacea,” said Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, who represents a stretch of South Florida west of Miami. “It does not solve all the problems. But it takes a huge step.” |
| Businesses, particularly technology and software companies, had pushed for the legislation as a way to help address the shortage of skilled American workers. | Businesses, particularly technology and software companies, had pushed for the legislation as a way to help address the shortage of skilled American workers. |
| But some Democrats said Friday that the bill set immigrant groups against one another by deepening demographic divides. | But some Democrats said Friday that the bill set immigrant groups against one another by deepening demographic divides. |
| “That is not America,” said Representative Luis V. Gutierrez of Chicago. “There was no special line for Ph.D.’s and master’s degree holders at Ellis Island.” | “That is not America,” said Representative Luis V. Gutierrez of Chicago. “There was no special line for Ph.D.’s and master’s degree holders at Ellis Island.” |
| Representative John Conyers Jr. of Michigan called the bill “a naked attempt to satisfy anti-immigrant groups.” | Representative John Conyers Jr. of Michigan called the bill “a naked attempt to satisfy anti-immigrant groups.” |
| In the Senate, there are several different immigration proposals but no clear road to passage yet. One plan favored by Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, would start by providing a path to legal status for children who were brought here illegally by their parents. | In the Senate, there are several different immigration proposals but no clear road to passage yet. One plan favored by Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, would start by providing a path to legal status for children who were brought here illegally by their parents. |
| But more comprehensive efforts have languished in the Senate ever since bipartisan negotiations between Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Republican, and Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, a Democrat, broke down in 2010. | But more comprehensive efforts have languished in the Senate ever since bipartisan negotiations between Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Republican, and Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, a Democrat, broke down in 2010. |
| But recently the two have restarted talks about a far-reaching bill that would include the House plan as part of a package that would combine enhanced border security — a sweetener for conservatives — with ways for illegal immigrants to become citizens. | But recently the two have restarted talks about a far-reaching bill that would include the House plan as part of a package that would combine enhanced border security — a sweetener for conservatives — with ways for illegal immigrants to become citizens. |
| Senate Democrats expect that hearings could begin in early 2013. | Senate Democrats expect that hearings could begin in early 2013. |
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: December 4, 2012 | |
An | An article on Saturday about a vote in the House of Representatives on an immigration bill misstated a proposal favored by Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican of Florida. It would start by providing a path to legal status — not citizenship — for children who were brought here illegally by their parents. |