Schumer Sees ‘Gang of Eight’ Deal this Week on Immigration

A raucous public debate over the nation’s flawed immigration system is set to begin in earnest this week as senators finalize a bipartisan bill to secure the border, allow tens of thousands of foreign workers into the country and grant eventual citizenship to the estimated 11 million people living here illegally.

Negotiators already are cautioning of struggles ahead for an issue that’s defied resolution for years. An immigration deal came close on the Senate floor in 2007 but collapsed amid interest group bickering and an angry public backlash.

“There will be a great deal of unhappiness about this proposal because everybody didn’t get what they wanted,” Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, who is a leader of the eight senators negotiating the legislation, said Sunday. “There are entrenched positions on both sides of this issue.”

“There’s a long road,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, appearing alongside Mr. McCain on CBS‘ “Face the Nation.” ”There are people on both sides who are against this bill, and they will be able to shoot at it.”

Mr. Schumer, Mr. McCain and their “Gang of Eight” already missed a self-imposed deadline to have their bill ready in March, but Mr. Schumer said he hopes that this week it will happen.

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