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.
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.
IS THIS A JOKE?
Tell all the Fifth Columnist Bishops and Priests that they must declare whether or not they are more loyal to the US or to the Vatican.
100 years ago, Americans would have known what to do with Fifth Columnists like Mahoney.
I'm really tired of them treating the American people like we're a bunch of morons too stupid to know their shafting us.
Will the last American please turn out the light as we slide into the third world.
KEEP THE PHONE CALLS COMING! CALL ALL OF YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN NOW!
How about NO????
If they don't have the guts for NO, how about $30,000 per illegal in 10 days? ???? If no, then they get a FREE trip to Mexico!
There I go hoping these people will actually enforce the laws they pass.
###
The legislative branch doesnt enforce the law. The executive branch is responsible to do that.
I've heard it's more like 33 million. I guess we'd better face it, America. We've been had.
I know how it works, thanks.
Contact your RINO Senators and critters.
- (888) 355-3588 or (877) 762-8762
if these lines are busy, click here to find the local numbers for your senator/s.
I am disgusted but not surprised to see this. Bill Frist and GW Bush are selling our country down the river. I've become convinced that illegal immigration is the biggest long term security issue facing our nation and i'm disgusted that so many influential people in our party are surrendering our national interest to an invading force from a foregin nation. You'd think the specter of thousands upon thousands marching in our streets bearing the flag of another nation would have sparked some patriotic instinct in the President and some of our "leaders." I really have begun to rue the day we let this country club RINO become President.
On MSNBC the Breaking News says that Senate Republicans are working on legislation to give illegal immigrants legal status....
THAT is so far from what the Republicans were saying on the floor of the Senate today,...I have NO idea what is going on.
And what do we do about the number of Chinese Nationalists found on a container ship in Seattle today?
They are after the money.
20 million illegal aliens. 80% are from Catholic countries. If half of them attend mass each week and just give an average of $2.00 each that's $16 million a week.
Reverand Ike would like a haul like that.
Sorry, but Washington State has no Rhino Republican senators. Only Commies Murray and Cantwell, and they won't listen anymore than a Rhino would.
Agreed.
About three times as were originally advertised were legalized in the '86 amnesty.
Fast forwarding, we could easily surmise that this insanity could give the gift of US citizenship to over 30 million lawbreakers ultimately.
It isn't beyond reason to think that may well happen.
And it isn't unreasonable to think that it will also open the door to the next wave of tens of millions of invaders.
sorry I was presumptive
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