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Domenici Introduces Amnesty/Guest Worker Bill
Federation for American Immigration Reform ^ | February 17, 2006

Posted on 02/19/2006 11:19:46 PM PST by Rick_Michael

In preparation for a debate in the Senate next month on immigration policy, Senator Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) has introduced legislation that would grant amnesty to an estimated 12 million people now living illegally in the U.S. and admit an additional 500,000 new guest workers plus dependant family members every year. Under the Domenici legislation, known as the Welcoming Immigrants to a Secure Homeland (WISH) of 2006 bill, all of the "guest workers" would eventually be allowed to become permanent residents.

In addition to creating a new guest worker visa, the WISH Act would vastly expand existing guest worker programs. Under the Domenici bill, limits on H-1B high tech workers would be virtually eliminated, and foreign student visas would be almost automatically convertible to permanent residency.

"There is virtually no American job, educational opportunity, or community that would not be undermined by this disastrous piece of legislation," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "Under the WISH Act, millions of illegal aliens would be rewarded with amnesty, and business interests would be granted access to unlimited numbers of guest workers who will never have to leave. For ordinary Americans, the legislation holds the promise of downwardly spiraling wages, massive population growth and the collapse of vital social institutions.

"The vast majority of the American public is demanding that our nation's immigration laws be enforced," Stein continued. "Under the Domenici bill, our nation's immigration laws would simply be eliminated. Americans would have no greater claim to the right to live and work in the United States than anyone, anywhere on the face of the planet."

The levels of future immigration to the United States that would result from passage of the WISH Act would be staggering. Under our current legal immigration policy, the United States admits nearly one million people annually, the overwhelming majority coming to reunite with extended family members in this country. The Domenici amnesty would not only allow the estimated 12 million illegal aliens now here to become permanent residents, but would also entitle them to petition for their extended families to join them here. On top of that, if each of the 500,000 new permanent guest workers created annually by the WISH Act brought just two dependants, that would result in 1.5 million more immigrants arriving every year. Added to that figure would be an unlimited number of H-1B workers and foreign college graduates who convert student visas into permanent residency visas.

"The damage that the Domenici bill would do every aspect of life in America would be incalculable," said Stein. "In very short order, America would become a vastly overpopulated nation devoid of a middle class. The United States Senate owes it to the American public to reject this and similar amnesty and guest worker bills and focus on protecting our borders and the survival of the American middle class," concluded Stein.


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: 109th; aliens; amnesty; guestwork; hispandering; illegalalien; illegalimmigration; immigrantlist; immigration
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To: Rick_Michael

Well, well....every vote counts and I guess he's counting his in New Mexico....


21 posted on 02/20/2006 12:10:58 AM PST by WHATNEXT? (That's PRESIDENT BUSH (not Mr.)!!)
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To: Rick_Michael

Here's my response:

Are you a complete Idiot?

As a 50 year republican, I will vote for the next democrate who promises to secure our boarders...


22 posted on 02/20/2006 12:14:50 AM PST by babygene (Viable after 87 trimesters)
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To: babygene

I would say in general, and not just in this case, we need to nominate people to the senate with prudence. There are few dems out there that will secure the border, and I just couldn't vote for 80% or more of them. We need to work this out within, not go to the hopeless groups without.


23 posted on 02/20/2006 12:23:27 AM PST by Rick_Michael
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To: Rick_Michael

What I'm saying to Pete is, wake the hell up! This is the big issue. Don't screw us in this...


24 posted on 02/20/2006 1:24:32 AM PST by babygene (Viable after 87 trimesters)
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To: Rick_Michael

I agree with you. I would like to know his purpose also.


25 posted on 02/20/2006 1:29:50 AM PST by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done, needs to be done by the government.)
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To: babygene

I would say border security/enforcement is just as important as foreign military activity. Security, Spending, and Morality. If a politician can't focus properly on those few things, then they aren't really a representive of me. I can't remember when we last had all three...could you?


26 posted on 02/20/2006 1:32:07 AM PST by Rick_Michael
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To: Rick_Michael

President Bush has been great on most things except for our border.
He has been great on the war on terrorists.
But on the border he is a gross failure.
He acted fast and correct on the 3,000+ people murdered at the world trade center.
He ignores the many rapes, murders and robberies which might be larger than the murders and money loss at the world trade center.

Start building the fence.

It should be made a felony for Criminals who overstay their visas and Invaders.

I believe we should give amnesty to these poor CRIMINALS or INVADERS.
This should be a 2 week amnesty to get the heck out of our Country.
The ones who ignore this amnesty should be buried in a tent city jail and fined $10,000 or buried elsewhere.
All aiders and abettors of these CRIMINALS or INVADERS should get 1 year in a tent city jail and a $10,000 fine for each CRIMINAL aided.
Those in government should be the first ones charged.


27 posted on 02/20/2006 1:35:24 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (“Don't approach a Bull from the front, a Horse from the rear, or a Fool from any side.”)
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To: Plutarch

You will note that future visa number adjustments will be based on market need. Why this is precious, now every third worlder can be deployed based on the USAs market need. Such flexibility of foreign nationals does not bode well for Americans. Oh well, thats that vaunted globalism at work. I am curious as to what folks think the reason is that business would prefer foreigners to Americans.


28 posted on 02/20/2006 4:12:34 AM PST by son of caesar
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To: babygene

I know im a bit of a cynic, but this good old boy pete has been there a long time. Methinks perhaps pete has been offered a spectarularly plum job by the White House or some other gubmt group thing if he goes along with this amnesty.
Now the number stated is 12 million and if you buy that number for the nation, I have ten bridges in brooklyn Ill sell you for the price of one. We know is its way more than 12 million. So, yes good old boy pete is doing his job greasing the way for just a bit more pure globalism to show up on our doorsteps. Hable Espanol yet?


29 posted on 02/20/2006 4:18:10 AM PST by son of caesar
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To: Rick_Michael
Here is a list of points from Senator Domenici's press release:

The following is a summary of the major provisions of the WISH Act:

>>> IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT

? Requires DHS to add new investigators and enforcement agents to curb human smuggling, hiring illegal aliens and immigration fraud, and add more personnel to process student visa applications.

? Increases penalties for aliens working illegally and employers who hire illegal aliens.

? Requires social security cards to be machine-readable and tamper resistant.

? Provides for employer participation in a system to verify the employment eligibility of aliens and to track aliens’ employment.

>>> PROVIDE A NEW GUEST WORKER VISA

? Creates a guest worker visa for aliens to legally come to the United States with their immediate family, work, and travel for up to three 3-year periods. The alien must undergo a medical exam and background check to qualify, and must remain employed to stay in the United States. These guest workers would be allowed to begin paperwork for a change of status to permanent resident after they have been in the United States for 6 years under this visa; if they do not apply for a change of status, they must return to their home country upon expiration of the visa for at least 3 years. Failure to depart upon visa expiration would mean that the alien would be ineligible for any immigration benefit except asylum for 10 years. There would be 500,000 visas that could be issued in the first year under this section; this number could be increased in later years based on market need.

>>> ALLOW ILLEGAL WORKERS TO BECOME LEGAL WORKERS

? Creates a program to allow aliens who are illegally in the United States to obtain the above-referenced visa without leaving the United States. The alien would have to pay a fine for being in the United States illegally and go thru the same application process as aliens applying for the visa legally. These aliens would have to apply for this visa within three years of enactment of the WISH Act. If an illegal alien fails to apply for the visa and remains in the United States illegally, he would be removed and not allowed to apply for any immigration benefit except asylum. After being in the United States 5 years under this visa, any alien who had been in the United States for 5 years prior to the date of enactment of the WISH Act would be eligible to apply for a different visa (but not permanent resident status), but such a visa would not be issued until the alien left the country and reentered thru legal channels. If no new visa is acquired for such aliens, and for all undocumented aliens who have been in the United States less that 5 years before enactment of the WISH Act, when the initial visa expires (after up to 9 years, assuming the alien renews the visa and remains employed), the alien would be required to leave the United States for at least 3 years. Failure to depart when the visa expires would make the alien ineligible for any immigration benefit except asylum for 10 years.

>>> CREATE A MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND TRAVELERS

? Removes the cap for H-1B visas for college and non-profit professionals and the world-wide numerical limits for visas issued to aliens who have earned an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering, or math in the United States.

? Allows full-time foreign college and graduate students to work part-time while studying in the United States.

? Allows foreign students who graduate from a U.S. college with honors and who have a job offer in the United States to transition from a student visa to a work visa without leaving the country.

? Allows foreign students to travel outside of the United States to attend a seminar that is related to the student’s chosen field of study.

? Allows guests who are in the United States temporarily on a B-1 (business) or B-2 (traveler) visa to travel no less than 100 miles from the international border during their trip.


30 posted on 02/20/2006 4:26:36 AM PST by snowsislander
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To: Rick_Michael
It's not a heckuva lot different than what the President has proposed...only to the nth degree.

The reason for this outrageous proposal (if this isn't actually from Scappleface) is strategically designed to make Dubya's own proposal appear "reasonable."

31 posted on 02/20/2006 4:34:42 AM PST by F16Fighter
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To: Rick_Michael
Message to Pete Domenici:

No,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no!

Have I made myself fairly clear,Pete?

32 posted on 02/20/2006 5:04:04 AM PST by Gay State Conservative
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To: LegendHasIt

There are major flaws in this plan, the most serious flaw is there is nothing in this plan to secure the border. Any plan will not work if the border is not secure. The first step in any plan has to be a major fence or barrier that stops the flood of illegals coming in.

Once the border is secure, then and only then can we hope to deal with those already here illegally. We will also have to have a system in place to keep track of any workers we choose to grant the legal right to work in this country. Our immigration officials can not keep up with those here now who arrived legally and simply stayed when their legal time was up. Without adding more man power and changing the system we have now, there is no way to enforce a guest worker program or fines or amnesty for those already here. Without enforcement, any new laws will be as meaningless as those we now have regarding illegal aliens.

For some reason our politicians don't understand these simple facts and are looking for a quick solution. We need to demand that the border be secured. Otherwise, officials will simply change the status of those here now, and the problems on the border will not be fixed, and in fact will be worse.

I am not willing to even consider any plan that does not begin by securing the border.


33 posted on 02/20/2006 7:32:35 AM PST by Tammy8 (Build a Real Border Fence, and enforce Immigration Laws!!!)
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To: kevinjdeanna

BTTT


34 posted on 02/20/2006 7:41:24 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker
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To: Rick_Michael

And exactly HOW do we work this out?


35 posted on 02/20/2006 7:43:55 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker
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To: Rick_Michael

Liberal RINO loser.


36 posted on 02/20/2006 12:00:22 PM PST by Icelander (Legal Resident Since 2004)
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To: All
TIME TO PRINT MORE AND SEND.
37 posted on 02/20/2006 12:03:24 PM PST by Icelander (Legal Resident Since 2004)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

We continuely let our sentators know that we want security first, and any 'REASONABLE' plan for guestworking must be done after the secure borders are complete and effective.


38 posted on 02/20/2006 12:35:41 PM PST by Rick_Michael
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To: Rick_Michael

The American people are overwhelmingly demanding less immigration so what does the Senate plan to do? Open the borders up even wider. How much more evidence does anyone need they are not working for us and are bought and paid for sellouts?


39 posted on 02/20/2006 2:26:56 PM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
How much more evidence does anyone need they are not working for us and are bought and paid for sellouts?

Repeal the 17th amendment, and you'll see Federalism once more; although that's asking the senate to give-up their powers....haaa.

40 posted on 02/20/2006 2:32:51 PM PST by Rick_Michael
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