(KCEN) -- President Obama's Chief of Staff confirmed today that the White House has been working on its own immigration reform plan.
Republicans are pushing back hard and say they're waiting to see what a bipartisan group of lawmakers will be offering in a few weeks.
Immigration reform is one of the very few issues that unites both republicans and democrats.
And while eight senators are finishing up a bipartisan bill USA Today reveals the White House has been working on a backup plan if the current efforts fall apart.
According to White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, "If those do not work out, then we'll have an option that will be ready to put out."
McDonough says the White House proposal would bolster border security and include a path to citizenship for this nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Republicans say any plan with the president's name on it is bound to fail.
Arizona Senator John McCain says, "Of course it will. And that's why we are working together. Republicans and democrats. By the way, he's had no communications with republicans on the issue, unlike the previous four presidents that I have dealt with."
Senator McCain is one of the so called gang of eight lawmakers working on the bipartisan bill.
So is Florida Republican Marco Rubio who says the president's plan won't work.
And other members of the GOP are not happy to see the White House weighing in.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul says, "When they come out and adamantly say my way or the highway and, if Congress doesn't ask, I'll put it on the desk and say, pass it now that's no way to get it done."
But the White House says it's ready to press ahead with immigration reform if Congress can't or won't act.
The group of eight expects to unveil it's bill in March.
But it may not be brought up for a vote until this summer.
