Posted on 04/05/2006 7:51:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans unveiled revised immigration legislation Wednesday night that would clear the way for legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million men, women and children living in the United States unlawfully.
Majority Leader Bill Frist outlined the proposal after efforts at a bipartisan compromise faltered earlier in the day and the Senate teetered between accomplishment and gridlock on the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid pledged to review the GOP proposal overnight to see whether "it could be something we could all support." The prospects appeared uncertain, however, since the provisions appeared similar to what he and other Democrats had earlier spurned.
The fate of the 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally hinged on the outcome of election-year maneuvering on an issue that Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., said had generated an unusual amount of emotion.
Three thousand miles distant from the Capitol, Cardinal Roger Mahony asked Catholics to pray the Senate passes legislation allowing illegal immigrants to gain citizenship. The Los Angeles-based prelate said the debate marked "one of the most critical weeks in the history of our country."
Republican officials said the GOP plan would divide illegal immigrants into three categories:
• Those who had been in the country the longest, more than five years, would not be required to return to their home country before gaining legal status. They would be subject to several tests, including the payment of fines and back taxes, and be required to submit to a background check, according to these officials.
• Illegal immigrants in the United States less than five years but more than two would be required to go to a border point of entry, briefly leave and then be readmitted to the United States. As with the longer-term illegal, other steps would be required, these officials said.
• Illegal immigrants in the United States less than two years would be required to leave the country and join any other foreign residents seeking legal entry.
The officials who described the proposal did so on condition of anonymity, saying the had not been authorized to pre-empt senators.
Hmmm, I wonder if the English languauge with its nearly a million words, has a word for this?
'Frist is batting for the wrong team' Ping!
How the hell do they expect to do background checks on people who aren't officially here? Are we going to rely on those fine mexican record keepers in Mexico who want to ship them here anyway?
Back taxes? Again, they aren't officially here.
Interested hey? If one thinks any part of the enforcement will ever happen, look for a new star in the east, chances of either are the same.
What is the point of further "immigration" legislation considering the laws that are already on the books are not enforced?
If he's too stupid to come out with a forceful, strong bill here, he's too stupid to be president. I think he's an intelligent man, but he's a wuss, politically. One thing I admire about McCain is that whether I agree with him or not, he comes out and says what he means, for the most part. I wish there were a conservative running for president who behaved like one AND made me think he wouldn't go wussy when he got to DC. But seeing how even Reagan went wobbly on a number of things important to me, I don't hold much hope.
I agree. There I go hoping these people will actually enforce the laws they pass.
But please do remember to vote Republican in 2006. It's for a super-duper majority. As if that could ever make a difference.
So, as expected, Frist has sold us down the river.
Big shock.
Hah.
Pure, unadulterated amnesty.
Hmmm, I wonder if the English languauge with its nearly a million words, has a word for this?
shafted
First sentence, Last word.. what didn't/don't they understand about that.
NormsRevenge, KUDOS for the great job you have been doing posting news. Much appreciated.
...are we going to give them green cookies and toasters too?
The Senate - what a bunch of wimps. John McCain needs to be defeated...
FRist sure huffed and puffed earlier in the day,, oh well.
Kyl was the most impressive Senator I saw on CSpan2 earlier in the day and he gets 'it' too.
Thanks, there is no end of stuff to post.. that is for sure. Just let me know if I go too over the top. toss me a rope,, (without a noose). :)
They couldn't do it last time with only three million illegals to process, and they sure won't be able to do it now with 20 million.
And the Senate damn well knows it.
He caves again. And Bill wants to be POTUS? Yeah, like that's gonna happen. The RATS will eat him alive.
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