McCain: Say, Let’s Do Amnesty!

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) returned to his home state, promising to tackle immigration reform in a local newspaper. He told The Arizona Republic that he talked to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) before leaving Washington D.C. to continue his brain cancer treatment. McCain said the following:

Immigration reform is one of the issues I’d like to see resolved. I’ve got to talk to [Schumer] about when would be the best time. I think there are all kinds of deals to be made out there. I really do.

Back in 2013, Schumer and McCain teamed up along with six other U.S. Senators to form the infamous “Gang of Eight” to create a failed immigration bill that sought amnesty for illegal immigrants. Conservative political organization Tea Party Patriots slammed the bill, suggesting that it promoted amnesty to an individual who entered the country illegally rather than promoting solutions to secure the border and fix the flawed immigration system. The original bill would have waived numerous convictions on the following crimes:

• Gang-related crimes and gang membership;
• Three or more drunk driving offenses;
• Domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and violation of protective orders;
• Committing crimes of moral turpitude;
• Violating federal or state drug laws;
• Trafficking in passports;
• Providing fraudulent immigration services;
• Trafficking immigration documents, including document fraud;
• Prostitution;
• Misrepresenting a material fact to procure visas or other immigration benefits (if done for any purpose other than submitting an amnesty application);
• Violating student visas;
• Falsely claiming citizenship; and
• Illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation

It remains to be seen whether the old Gang of Eight will bring back the old bill, but it would not be surprising if this conversation emerges before tax reform. McCain seems to be fixated on frustrating his constituents and conservatives once more, which has not helped his fellow Arizonian Jeff Flake, who got slammed in local polls in their home state. Coincidentally, Flake was also a member of the Gang of Eight along with Dick Durbin (D-IL) Michael Bennet (D-CO) Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and and Marco Rubio (R-FL).

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