Top 5 Most Barbarous Immigration Proposals in Congress

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“It expands the definition to include labor violations and retaliations, which the current law doesn’t really include that so you would have some protection,” says Costa. "It also authorizes Homeland Security to give you a temporary stay of removal. So even if you don’t end up getting the visa if you apply for it, while you are waiting or taking part in legal proceedings then you can stay. If you end up getting a visa you have a chance to get permanent residency.”

Such protections could offer some hope for those who run up against the unemployment or income violations for illegal reasons—if they are fired for union organizing, say, or are having their wages stolen—but they don’t offer shelter to those who are simply being paid minimum wage (which would place them below the income requirements) or are laid off in the normal course of business.

This is as good as an immigration bill passed by this Congress will get. If the House ever gets serious about passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill, it would have to be merged with the Senate’s bill, and if Goodlatte’s farmworker policy is anything to go by, the compromise could be downright vicious. Any addition from the House will only be more reactionary and the possibility of more progressive reform in the foreseeable future looks even worse. The Republicans have a good chance of winning control of the Senate in 2014.