Posted on 05/04/2004 4:09:19 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) -
Three Capitol Hill legislators proposed a sweeping amnesty for between eight million and 12 million undocumented immigrants who live, work and pay taxes in the United States.
The measure would ease family reunions, create two types of temporary work visas and offer a path to permanent legal residency and eventually citizenship for those who opt to live in the country.
According to the National Council of La Raza, a leading defender of Hispanic rights in the United States, the measure "would fix our broken immigration system."
The measure "is incredibly important to the Latino community, many of whom are immigrants themselves or have petitioned for their family members," the group said in a statement.
The measure was introduced in the Senate by Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and in the House by Representatives Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and Bob Menendez of New Jersey.
Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, a state with a heavy Hispanic population, dismissed the proposals as "unworkable and unfair."
"Not only is amnesty politically unviable, but it's fundamentally wrong," he said. "It's not right to put those immigrants who have broken the law ahead of those who have chosen to play by the rules."
The proposal would have to be approved in the Republican-controlled House and Senate, and then signed by President George W. Bush (news - web sites), before it became law.
In January, Bush proposed his own immigration reform, which would create a three-year work visa with a one-time renewal.
US Senator Edward 'Ted' Kennedy (D-MA), one of three Capitol Hill legislators who proposed a sweeping amnesty for between eight million and 12 million undocumented immigrants who live, work and pay taxes in the United States.(AFP/File/Paul J. Richards)
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) walks into a special closed meeting of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (news - web sites) also attended by senior figures of the U.S. army on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 4, 2004. Vice Chief of staff of the U.S. Army, General George Casey appeared at the committee which is investigating the events surrounding the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops. The U.S. military has brought charges of assault, cruelty and maltreatment against six soldiers, members of a military police battalion. It has also reprimanded six officers in connection with abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison after photographs were broadcast around the world showing naked Iraqi prisoners stacked in a pyramid or positioned to simulate sex acts. REUTERS/Jason Reed
{/sarcasm}
(I support high levels of legal immigration, no tolerance of illegal)
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) talks to the press after a special closed meeting of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (news - web sites) also attended by senior figures of the U.S. army on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 4, 2004. Vice Chief of staff of the U.S. Army, General George Casey was among those that appeared at the committee which is investigating the events surrounding the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops after pictures depicting the abuses were published and broadcast around the world last week. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Let's go back to the Gore vs Bush race for President. Had 8 to 10 million illegals voted in that race, Gore would have won hands down. Why Republicans can't see the danger in this proposal, I'll never know. I'll bet Bush comes out in support for this, and it will be his undoing. Hello, President Kerry and Vice Hillary.
LOL If I know GWB he'll demand 15 to 20 million illegals be given immediate citzenship. And a chicken in every pot, to boot.
But not all of these 8-12 million illegal alien lawbreakers work and/or pay taxes.
Dear Legislators, out of the 8-12 million, what percentage are terrorist wannabes looking to do us harm and whay are you so hot and bothered into giving them amnesty? Your political fortunes are more important to you than this country's safety, obviously.
Traitors one and all.
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