Republicans Divided on U.S. Immigration Law Reforms

WASHINGTON (AP) – After Mitt Romney’s presidential election loss, Republicans quickly identified one of their mistakes as the party’s dysfunctional relationship with Hispanic voters, who overwhelmingly voted for President Barack Obama.

But early GOP immigration reform efforts on Capitol Hill seem to miss the mark. A pair of bills offered by Republicans would provide legal status for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants – but not citizenship – and eliminate the popular diversity lottery that randomly awards green cards to 55,000 would be immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States .

Early reviews from Democrats and a longtime Republican consultant on Hispanic media aren’t enthusiastic.

Lionel Sosa, a media consultant for the past three Republican presidents, says the party has to see "the writing on the wall."