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.
It is the fact that the Reagan Amnesty turned out so miserably (magnifying the problem exponentially) that causes us to be so opposed to trying it again.
If you mean, after going back to their home countries first, then we might agree. They should not be in any way legalized without going back first.
The big stick is being lubed up for you know what.
And for all the bots who now love McLame, I can't wait for this one to play out. Meirs and the Port deal will look like a party after this is done.
Let the fat cats go door for the GOP. Let them get the voters to the polls, let them poll watch. I am done.
No, no. I thought you said there must be more to the story with Reagan's amnesty. You know -- as though everything he did was gold and everything Bush does is just plain evil.
Gee, I thought a freeper upthread posted a blurb about how Reagan's amnesty program was a GOOD thing.
One minor correction. We WERE SOLD DOWN THE RIVER YEARS AGO!!
You can't deal with the latter before the former. Otherwise... well, you know the drill.
"If you mean, after going back to their home countries first, then we might agree."
Okay.
Here going shopping is not about someone speaking English. It is about being safe. In the last month the small grocery store I shop at was robbed while open, at gunpoint, by......a hispanic male. The place where I buy gas for my car...same thing. My sister-in-laws house sits behind some low-income apartments full of bangers. They have caught the little ba*stards numerous times coming over their fence to break into their house. These are 16-17 yr old males.
The people committing these crimes are probably not illegal but they are the product of the massive illegal migration to Calif. Afterall, this has been going on for many years here.
Just saying, we live with it daily here and the SOB politicans just don't give a rat's butt.
who is going to step up to the plate and pay 2000 dollars? Yeah if I was an illegal my understanding is that the governemnt will let me get away with everything thanks teddy you jack@$$
The rino's are finally coming home to roost. These people don't have a clue about how the public thinks about this issue.
Why is there even talk of a compromise - do we not have the house and senate??
Ditto on both!
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, quipped that the requirements "probably exclude half of my family."
I'd like to bust Ole Lindsey one, right across the chops!
As much as I hate amnesty or any other name for it, can anyone give the best solution for ridding 15 million illegals already here?
Over the years the figure reported most often is 2-3 million illegals. I took 2.5 million. But that is not the point. Bad policy back then, is still bad policy today. Besides, the debate is not what Reagan did, its what Bush wants to do. Bush`s guest worker proposal from early 2004, is nothing then a backdoor amnesty fo illegals. The McCain-Kennedy bill is a road to citizenship. The Cornyn-Kyl bill isn't much better.
Cong Tancredo's Rewarding Employers that Abide by the Law and Guaranteeing Uniform Enforcement to Stop Terrorism Act of 2005 or the REAL GUEST Act of 2005 starts to get the job done the right way.
Lets do immigration reform the right way this time.
We could start by sending those that are in our prisons home and then anyone that is arrested that is an illegal alien should also be sent home. That is at least a start.
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