Posted on 04/03/2006 5:02:42 PM PDT by Aetius
Monday, April 3, 2006 5:06 p.m. EDT Sen. Alexander: Vouchers to Learn English
Legal immigrants fluent in English could become U.S. citizens in four years rather than five under a proposal that could become part of a broad immigration bill.
The proposal by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., was at the top of the agenda as the Senate began a second week of debate Monday on tightening U.S. borders against illegal immigrants, increasing penalties on employers who hire them and on whether to let more than 11 million undocumented aliens stay or make them leave at some point.
An estimated 7.2 million legal permanent residents have lived in the United States long enough to become Americans, according to the Homeland Security Department's Citizenship and Immigration Services office. The wait to become an American is five years, three years if the legal permanent resident marries a U.S. citizen.
Reasons that officials give for permanent residents not seeking citizenship include not speaking English well enough, an inability to pay the fee and not wanting to forfeit citizenship in their native country.
Alexander says a shorter naturalization wait might motivate more green card holders to seek U.S. citizenship.
"After we secure our borders, after we create a legal status for foreigners who work here and study here, the third indispensable step is to help prospective citizens become Americans," Alexander said.
His legislation would provide up to $500 in vouchers to immigrants to pay for English courses and grants to groups that provide classes in U.S. history and civics.
Advocates say long lines of immigrants are trying to sign up for English as a Second Language classes, but there is little money available for groups that want to provide the classes.
Tougher immigration issues await Senate action, namely proposals to let illegal immigrants work toward citizenship and to create guest worker programs backed by Bush.
"Part of securing our borders is moving forward on a guest worker program, because that will relieve pressure off the border," said Scott McClellan, Bush's press secretary. "It will allow our Border Patrol agents to focus on the criminals and the terrorists, the smugglers and traffickers that are trying to come into this country for the wrong reasons."
Also Monday, a Senate panel wrestled with how to reduce a backlog of immigration cases in federal appeals courts. Most of the appeals involve people seeking asylum or those who are refugees. The appeals have risen from 1,723 cases in 2000 to 12,349 in 2005.
Sen. Lamar Alexander's amendment is S1815.
I shall wear them with pride...and sadness.
***More business welfare.***
It's been my impression for years that the schools have used the "English/Spanish classes as a way to soak the taxpayers out of more money. This may not be true everywhere, but a woman who called a local radion show some years ago said this:
She lives in the southwest. Her father and mother came here legally, learned the language, and worked hard to start a business. She and her husband spoke NOTHING BUT ENGLISH in their home. Yet, the school wanted to force her six-year old daughter into classes for Spanish students because her mother was the child of an immigrant. The child did not know Spanish. The mother said that they were doing it only to fill up classes and get more money from the government.
***Get Cardinal Mahoney behind it***
WOO HOO! The soft-hearted but misguidedd Cardinal would probably do it, and cheaper than the government.
Not a bad idea, if I say so myself ;)
Me too. "You bleeding hearts support me from womb to tomb while I remain loyal to a country that abandoned me." The ironic thing is that these parasites, in their delusion, hold out a glimmer of hope that Mexico will reform and become a desirable place to live. Welp, as of a few days ago, the leading Mexican presidential candidate is PRD. Can you say "commie"? Note also the idolatry as far as Cesar Chavez is concerned- many illegals marched "in honor of him." Apparently, the marchers never heard of the "Wet Line". Chavez and his brethren were as anti-illegal as anti-illegal can get. When they weren't calling INS to deport illegals, they were kicking their butts.
As far as I know, the only money the immigrants will need is to cover babysitting services, books, CDs. Most beginning English classes are free.
Unfortunately, the House bill will turn me into felon for "aiding" illegal aliens, since I don't check the ID papers of my students
You're kidding , right?
....and I would like to learn German...and Italian...maybe polish my Spanish...
***You're kidding , right?***
NOPE!
We shouldn't have to pay for anything for these people! Why is it our responsibility? We should have rules.....period. If the immigrant, legal or illegal, doesn't wanta follow them on their own dime then citizenship doesn't mean much to them and they can go back where they came from....imo. Afterall, we are not begging for immigrants, heck everyone in the world wants to come here. Why can't we be picky about them, it is a priveledge, not a right.
Okay, you're right- Mahoney would be a (slightly) less malicious pickpocket than the feds. Pyrrhic victory......
DEMAND EMPLOYERS SANCTIONS NOW
AT THE SAME TIME BUILD A WALL
FIX MEXICO
DRAFT A REASONABLE IMMIGRATION POLICY
Typical politician. A CD-ROM language course would cost a lot less than $500. They could supply their own dang 'puters. And they could do it in their home country after Lamar and his pandering butt-buddies get real and give us a bill that secures the borders and sends the illegal aliens packing. Get tough on the employers and the illegals will self-deport. No roundup necessary.
A bumper sticker I saw today that I totally agree with:
"ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.