Posted on 04/03/2006 7:36:42 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Republican senators uncertain of support for a proposal to allow illegal immigrants with jobs to remain in this country reached for a compromise late Monday to bolster votes for the measure.
Meeting into the evening in the office of Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., the lawmakers considered allowing illegal immigrants who have been in the country more than five years or other connections to the United States to remain legally and eventually seek citizenship.
"We're looking at the roots concept, and that is if they have been here more than five years," Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said after leaving the meeting. "That is a reasonable line as to people who have roots who ought to be treated differently. And if they have been here less then five years, they do not have roots to the same extent and can be treated differently, and that is what we're looking at."
The fate of those with less time in the country was unclear, but Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested they might be asked to go to ports of entry, like the Texas border city of El Paso.
A similar proposal was made in Specter's committee for younger, unmarried and more recent illegal immigrants before they re-entered as authorized guest workers.
Specter said the proposals _ mostly brought forward by Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. _ would be spelled out to other Republicans on Tuesday morning.
"What we're trying to figure out is something which will be workable so 11 million undocumented will come forward, not create a fugitive class," he said.
The evening work was a sign of the pressure senators are feeling to get a bill passed by week's end. Hagel and Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who also participated in the meeting, said they were looking for a bill that would appeal to a broader base and clear the Senate to begin negotiations with the House.
The House passed a tougher bill last year that would make being in the country illegally a felony.
The Senate began its second week of debate Monday on immigration, but had yet to resolve which of three major proposals it would move forward.
A bill approved by the Judiciary Committee _ based on a proposal by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. _ would allow illegal immigrants in the United States before Jan. 7, 2004 and who have jobs, to work legally for an additional six years and eventually become citizens. The proposal has drawn opposition from some who consider it amnesty.
A proposal by Frist does not deal with illegal immigrants but boosts border enforcement and cracks down on employers who hire illegal workers.
A third bill proposed by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., would give illegal immigrants up to five years to leave the country before they can return legally to apply for permanent residence or be guest workers.
Earlier Monday, the Senate voted 91-1 in favor of a proposal by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., to allow legal immigrants fluent in English to become U.S. citizens in four years rather than five.
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.
Alexander said 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 measure also 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, paid for by a portion of fees collected from applicants for naturalization, green cards and other immigration benefits.
President Bush is backing proposals for temporary work programs as a way "because that will relieve pressure off the border," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
"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, the Senate voted 84-6 in favor of providing $50 million over five years for crime fighting by local law enforcement agencies within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border. The House authorized $100 million over a year for local officials within 25 miles of the border.
Earlier, 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.
Shouldn't they seek the approval of the people who can and did vote them into office?
Horseshit...... Close the borders with the military and deport all of the illegals!!!! Anything less is not just...
NO mention of a fence.
Tell Waffling RINO's : No Amnesty!
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=13155
Wrong Way Whino's (RINO's)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1607789/posts?page=475#475
Good thinking there, Arlen. Since they've been criminals for a longer time, the punishment should be harsher.
That is what you meant, isn't it Arlen?
"The fate of those with less time in the country was unclear, but Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested they might be asked to go to ports of entry, like the Texas border city of El Paso."
What are they talking about? What will they do once they get to El Paso?
I can see it now:
ICE agent: Jose, you've only been here 4 years. Please go to El Paso.
Jose: That's ok- I'm doing fine here.
ICE agent: Oh, ok- nevermind.
Building a fence, stricter enforcement, along with some type of workers visa for those illegals who have been here (say 5 years) which they can use while becoming citizens is exactly what is needed.
The next step is to correct and set more reasonable levels for the number of citizenship's we allot for immigrents during the next decade.
"Compromise is for sissies. Screw that"
In case you haven't noticed, those of us who are adamantly for border security have about 25 reliable votes in the Senate and maybe 1/3 of the Congressmen. We don't have the votes - the other side does. If the other side is about to pass a horrible bill, getting it compromised down to a mediocre bill would be progress.
"and maybe 1/3 of the Congressmen"
Over 50% They already passed the House bill.
"Over 50% They already passed the House bill.:
Don't be conned- the plan all along was for the House to pass border security so they could look good back home and then for the Senate to do a comprehensive plan and the bills to be merged in committee.
In case you didn't notice, both Hastert and Boehner have been making noises about accepting a guest worker bill.
Perhaps.
I think they were cowed by stilted polls and money afterward.
And they're chicken to go against Bush firmly.
I don't like the "felon" provision BTW.
The best part is "The fate of those with less time in the country was unclear, but Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested they might be asked to go to ports of entry, like the Texas border city of El Paso."
Which translates as; illegal aliens here less than five years will also be given eventual amnesty, but first they may have to travel to Texas to get their papers.
I'd like them (the "lawmakers") to consider looking into the "following the f*ing law" concept.
We sent them there in 1994 to do a job, they didn't understand it, they did what seemed to serve their own interests instead - and now, they are going away.
Bye.
The pressure needs to remain focused on the House...they passes a bill already and we need to hold their feet to the fire to force them not to accept any wimp-ass Senatorial cop-out bill. If we do that it won't matter what our Casper Milquetoast Senators do... John Cornyn and John Kyl have it right... 5 years and you are outta here - get in line where you belong...the 5 years avoids a quick withdrawal so as not to cause economic problems...but the sooner they get out the higher they get on the re-entry legally list. Then, pass a bill that demands that local authorities, municipalities, schools, etc that get any federal funding MUST verify status and notify immigration authorities when they identify illegals or lose federal funds... and employers must verify status or face stiff penalties....and enforce it !!! And while they are at it -- stop ALL social services and freebies given to illegals...basic necessities and trips home with retina scan IDs so if they are found here again - mandatory prison time in a tent-city in Arizona ... and we must have a provision in any guest worker program that allows employers to hire those who are here legally to provide a basic health benefit package - to not do so will continue to bankrupt our health care system which currently passes on the costs of care to illegals to those of us who pay health premiums and taxes...
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