Posted on 03/16/2006 1:51:16 PM PST by VU4G10
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure to produce broad immigration reform legislation by the end of the month, a U.S. Senate panel on Thursday neared agreement on a proposal that would give some of the 12 million illegal aliens living in the country an opportunity to earn citizenship.
Although no vote will be held until after a weeklong congressional recess, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday appeared ready to back a proposal by panel member Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, who has worked on the issue with his Republican colleague John McCain of Arizona.
The panel, which is working on comprehensive immigration and border security legislation, will also consider a related proposal that would allow foreigners to enter the United States as legal guest workers and then have a chance to earn permanent status.
Republicans are divided over immigration policy, and the Judiciary Committee plan is likely to spark a firestorm from conservatives who oppose regularizing the status of illegal immigrants, saying they would be rewarded after breaking U.S. immigration law.
But backers cite both economic and security reasons. They say that providing a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship will avoid creating a permanent underclass of workers and help bring illegals aliens out of the shadows.
Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican who opposes giving permanent status to illegals, said after the meeting that the panel would probably vote for the Kennedy plan.
"The votes are there," Grassley said.
NO AMNESTY
Kennedy told the committee the proposal was not an amnesty. People seeking legal status would have to pay a $2,000 fine, apply for a six-year temporary status, have a job, pay taxes, learn English and show an understanding of U.S. government.
They would not get permanent status faster than the three million foreigners awaiting legal entry, he said.
"There is no moving to the front of the line, there is no free ticket," Kennedy said. "This is not amnesty."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, quipped that the requirements "probably exclude half of my family."
The panel also reached tentative agreement on a guest worker program sought by President George W. Bush has said he wants. A compromise struck between Kennedy and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, would give future temporary workers an opportunity to seek permanent status after four years.
U.S. business groups favor creating a temporary worker program to help fill jobs that Americans either cannot or will not do. Both business and labor groups also favor giving current undocumented workers a way to legalize their status.
Committee members said details would be worked out during the recess.
The panel is working against a deadline set by Majority Leader Bill Frist. The Tennessee Republican, and possible contender in the 2008 presidential race, wants the Senate to take up a bill addressing only enforcement and border security. He threatened to do that on March 27 if the Judiciary Committee failed to reach agreement on comprehensive legislation.
Whether Congress will finalize immigration legislation before the November congressional elections is unclear. Both Democrats and Republicans are likely to use the issue to gain advantage.
The House of Representatives has voted for tough border security and enforcement legislation with no guest worker program. The two sides would have to work out their differences before a bill could be sent to Bush for his signature.
Don't you know that Reagan and Bush are perfect??? Never criticize anything they ever did in their 8 years in office. They both made and are making excellent decisions, as you see, they are more than human and never make a mistake..../sarcasm off/...:)
The only way to stop this is to engage in massive pushback, I am talking about worse than the ports, I am talking Euro Cartoon Riot Freak Out type marches!
That's the point right?
This plan does not do anything to stop the flood of illegals.
Any guest worker program that doesn't require applicants to return to their country of origin to apply is AN AMNESTY.
These politicos KNOW that. They are being obtuse on purpose.
We fought a revolutionary war for less than this.
We don't need a 3rd party, we need to start over.
BigMack
I'm not all that familiar with the details of the Reagan amnesty; but it's just another reminder that even our favorite presidents were not infallible. Damn that amnesty!
Well I can't see much of a difference between the 2 parties anymore. I am with you, a pox on both their houses. I will not vote for anyone again that just changes the laws to suit them instead of enforce them when it comes to illegals.
Illegals effect my entire life anymore. They have taken over the small city I live in. You can't get near a hospital here, schools are overcrowded. Crime has gone up, their little gang banger kids are everywhere! It even affects where I shop, there are parts of town you cannot even go to anymore.
And these idiots say it's okay, hunky dory! Yeah for them, they live behind gates or in neighborhoods not accessible to these people. I will not say they have no clue, I will say they just don't give a dam about the American people. Well guess what, unless they fight this fight instead of surrender, I no longer care about them. I hope anyone that votes for this AMNESTY rots in hades.
RANT OFF! ;)
Unlike the creation of the European Union, there is no public political/ academic discourse on the merits, or pros and cons of a North American Union building up to a vote within each nation as to the wish of the people to join such a union. Instead the union is being created by stealth, is already well on its way to fruition, and is being imposed on us by our own "elected" representatives and government with no opposition.
The ultimate enforcement mechanism for the North American Union is a police state. The tools for the police state are "anti-terrorist" laws. Anti Terrorist laws are a ruse to strip the people of their liberties in order to prevent dissent. The Orwellian justification is "security", "safety".
The plan of this Canada-U.S.-Mexico task force is to establish a continent-wide customs union with a common approach to trade, energy, immigration, law enforcement and security that would virtually eliminate existing national borders. The task force released its recommendations for a common North American in May 17/18, 2005.There was minor reference to it in mainstream media - no headline presentation.
The recommendations include:
Well there are two separate but related problems - how do we keep them from getting in and what do we do about the ones that are already here?
My understanding is this deals with the latter and I think its a reasonable approach for dealing with it although one could quibble about details and the need to stiffen it up, etc. I think they need to deal with both issues. I also think the public is even more upset about how easily they are waltzing in. We need troops and a wall to address that one.
Me neither, since I was about 10 when he was President. There is usually more to the story though.
Exactly.
You must live in my neighborhood! It is exactly the same. I carefully pick the time of day I can go shopping or where to go so I might be able to hear somebody speak English! And I've been in search of a legal gardener for 2 years now - and can't find one that can prove to me that they and their employees are legal. And God help us if we have to go to the emergency room! We'll actually have to pay our bill, after waiting for hours for the illegals to be treated for nothing.
This is just sickening.
Thanks for the facts. Much appreciated.
Of the nearly 4 million illegal immigrants eligible to apply for legal residency under the 1986 law, 55 percent were from Mexico, according to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. The law gave immigrants who came to America before 1982 one year, between May 1987 and May 1988, to apply for temporary resident status and permits for employment.
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/07/16/bush.mexico/
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