Immigration Update

The Republicans will likely have a slim House majority (potentially with no room for error) to pull off immigration changes and will struggle to win over Senate Democrats, who could filibuster legislation from the minority. Republicans have a potential procedural tool for sidestepping the filibuster, a process known as budget reconciliation, but it appears that rules governing the maneuver may prevent them from including a big revamp of immigration policy.  Under budget reconciliation restrictions, policies can only be included if they meet a series of rules including that their budgetary impact has to outweigh their policy impact. President-elect Trump is expected to enact some of those ideas through executive orders, but without Congress they can be undone by the next administration. The Republicans believe they have a shot at enacting more funding for the border wall, border technology and related personnel. They are also looking at ideas like taxing money that individuals in the United States send to individuals in other countries.