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.
I think we should auction off citizenship to the highest bidders.
But that's not in the cards.
Is anyone still unconvinced of the utter corruption of pretty much every one of these politicians? McCain was absolutely disgusted that anyone would expect that the law be enforced, and lawbreakers be deported.
Or else what will happen to them? NOTHING! Just like it's always been. Millions pour across the border unabated every year and only a tiny percentage are sent back across only to cross back the next day. This is such a crock. Throw those sorry bums out of office. All these stupid laws mean nothing until they close the borders!
/rant
How can we? I have no idea. Apparently we must listen to him though, since his brothers were martyrs.
He's one of our "elites", doncha know, so he must know more than we do, even though his brain has been pickled since the 60s at least.
You truly expect someone who broke the law to enter the country in the first place, and has probably commited some type of identitiy theft to suddenly shape up and fork over $2,000?
LOL
"Forget anything they have built, their record in this country, military service, doesn`t matter, out they go."
It's precisely their record or illegal activity that warrants them being deported.
Nope. Which is exactly why we shouldn't be attempting another amnesty program. It just worsens the problem. This program will be even less effective than the last.
By and large that`s what Bush and the Senate are working on and I`m all for it.
That is exactly the opposite of what Bush and the Senate are proposing. They are doing everything in their power to keep a wall from being built, precisely because they know it will work, and that just doesn't fit-in with their elitist vision for America.
The Civil War showed that the force of arms always has the last laugh.
BUMP
The job they hold is an ill-gotten gain that they received by breaking a federal law. Another amnesty will simply speed the rate of illegal immigration. Build the wall and deport. Simple solution, and the only one that will stop the problem.
Some seem to conveniently forget this point...
So better yet, let's confiscate whatever ill-gotten gains they have made by breaking a federal law, and use that to pay their fare back to Mexico, and keep the rest to cover whatever social costs their compadres are running up in this country. Just business.
How many of you folks agree?
BOHICA & FUBAR. Damn them! McCain thinks this will make him President. Is he right?
This sounds embarrassingly familiar....
Well, you're right about that...but the key is just where are those money contributions coming from? What is the ultimate goal here? Maybe to eventually merge the US with Mexico? Who's far reaching goal is that???
~Tinfoil hat begins to glow, foil muffs descend over ears, little propeller on top spins madly~
>
The job they hold is an ill-gotten gain that they received by breaking a federal law. Another amnesty will simply speed the rate of illegal immigration. Build the wall and deport. Simple solution, and the only one that will stop the problem.
>
But this is silly. You are rewarding them for breaking the law. If you deport them, there is no punishment. Why would you reward them for breaking the law. Deportation and allowing them to keep all bank accounts in which they've been storing savings is a reward. I just don't see why you want to reward them for breaking the law.
A fine of significant proportions is a punishment for violating the law. I think most countries fine someone for overstaying a visa and then grant a visa extension in return for a fee. Why not fine the hell out of them, bill them for a proper visa and get them documented, and then set them loose to get back to work in a trackable configuration.
I just don't understand why you deportation guys want to reward illegals by deporting them. There Has To Be Punishment. If this is a truly serious crime, why not make it capital punishment? That doesn't make any money for the taxpayer, but at least it is a proper punishment.
And if they are caught illegally here after this scamnesty goies through then what?????????
These illegals don't want to be legal. That is the whole scam of this. They want to work for cash under the table to send home, period.
As soon as soon are "legal" there will be a whole new demand and wave of cheaper illegal aliens so that the businesses can profit by not paying taxes.
I am in favor of letting people in who have two financial sponsors who will sign a personal guaranty and post a bond for each person brought here legally. As soon as that happens you will see whole different attitude towards who is allowed to come here.
Additionally, how do you do background checks on people who live like nomads, have ten names, and no real other anchor to any particular place?
Yeah, my neighbor told me just how two-faced, Kennedy really is. She said that back in the 70's or so, he went on and on about how morally wrong abortion was, and suddenly, he changed his tune because of the way the wind blew(the ACLU's doing, I'm sure). And of course, it was politically beneficial for him to do so. When it's beneficial for him to stab us all in the back, he's right there with his switchblade, all primed and ready to go. He's another one of them that can't stand on his own two feet. He's just too busy trying to be the most obnoxious human being possible...
BOHICA? Haven't heard that in a while.
You an AFA grad?
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