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Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this week that they are ready to sit down together to try to find an elusive agreement on the reform of immigration to cope with the growing humanitarian crisis on the southern border.
Pelosi, D-Calif., Speaking in front of reporters at the Democratic Retreat in Leesburg, Va., Said she was "pleased to see" information that McConnell, R-Ky., "Is ready to talk" of an agreement on immigration.
McConnell told reporters Thursday that it was "time" to negotiate with the Democrats on immigration and that he is willing to talk to Pelosi "now".
Although lawmakers generally avoid taking major political initiatives when a presidential election looms, they may not have a choice.
The sudden increase in the number of family teams attempting to enter the United States illegally has overwhelmed the country's border security system.
[[[[Opinion: The border is flooded with fraudulent families. When will Congress do something about it?]
So far this year, 240,000 illegal immigrants have been apprehended entering the United States, some at entry points, but mainly at points along the southwestern border.
The increase accelerated after July 2015, when a federal judge ruled that parents of illegal immigrants were to be released with their children soon after their arrest.
The court's decision attracted massive family migration from Central America, as adults knew that taking children to the US border would prevent them from being arrested or immediately sent home.
Even Pelosi admitted Friday that he had created "a humanitarian crisis".
The GOP wants to change the country's asylum laws and rules to discourage the recent wave of mass migration from Central America.
However, the conclusion of a bipartisan agreement with the Democrats would probably require a comprehensive plan for illegal immigrants already living in the United States.
Although McConnell did not specify what should be included in an agreement, Mr. Pelosi said: "What we need to do is sit down and carry out a comprehensive reform of l & # 39; immigration. "
"I'm glad Mitch McConnell said he was ready to do it."
Democrats and Republicans have tried, unsuccessfully, to pass an immigration reform law several times over the past 15 years.
Democrats want a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, while Republicans have sought to beef up border security provisions.
Pelosi said that none of the current problems along the border can be solved without tackling a comprehensive reform of immigration.
"I think the president is starting to realize that this has to happen," said Pelosi.
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