Congress Nears Deal on Illegal Immigrants (breaking on cable networks)

AP/Yahoo News ^ | 4-6-06 | DAVID ESPO

[STARWISE]

WASHINGTON - In a last stab at compromise, Senate Republicans and Democrats reported progress Thursday toward agreement on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants now in the U.S. illegally.

"There's been tremendous progress overnight," said Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada, the Democratic leader, while Majority Leader Bill Frist also expressed optimism that a long-sought compromise might be at hand.

There was no immediate reaction from President Bush, who has made immigration legislation a key priority.

The developments occurred after Frist unveiled a new bill late Wednesday night on the subject as the Senate headed into a test vote on the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades.

In general, the legislation would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the flow of future immigrants into the United States and settle the legal fate of the estimated 11 million men, women and children already in the country.

It was the fate of the illegal immigrant population that proved hardest to legislate, and it has left the Senate on the verge of gridlock for days.

(snip)

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., as well as other key senators met before the vote to review terms of a proposed compromise.

In general, it would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.

Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.

[Centurion2000]

BUMP

[azhenfud]

don't forget, jail time and prison terms would also count as credible time..

[clawrence3]

The mass importation of slaves from Africa and 14th Amendment "diluted" American citizenship then too.

[Guenevere]

Neither can I.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

When C-SPAN starts broadcasting exclusively en Espanol.

Will you draw the line then?

[nicmarlo]

There is no serious debate over whether or not it will have disastrous consequences for our country. It will.

We are watching as this nation is being destroyed-bit by bit-with the POTUS leading the charge.

Sadly, that's the facts.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

I have utter contempt for the criminals that burned our American flags, mistreated them, and flew their Mexican flags above ours. I have long had a problem with the car dealerships here in Texas that fly Mexican flags, and I do not conduct business with them. The groups that incited these people are criminal enterprises, and have called for more demonstrations nationwide. I believe that it is important to focus on the organizers and expose them for the Marxist organizations that they are. If they can bait even a small group of patriotic Americans into violence, you can be sure that Jim Rob and other conservative forums/blogs will be receiving subpoena's for posting history and FReepmail logs. The rhetoric calling for and condoning violence is unconscionable.

[clawrence3]

No - I am fluent in Spanish.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Gotta let you know, I was in the distinct minority on the Dubai deal. I thought that DPW did not pose a threat to our port operations and frankly believe that they offered a set of superb concessions in order to help make the deal attractive. But, I am hardly part of any elite. Just look at what's inside my garage. I only wish we could get beyond the name calling and try to coalesce around a bill that enforces the border.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

There was no such thing as American citizenship when slaves began to be imported into the Western Hemisphere, and the 14th Amendment did not "dilute" anything.

It simply recognized the rights that had been denied to certain Americans for the better part of a century.

[samcgwire]

CFR.org.

[azhenfud]

I've been thinking about taking up Spanish, just to add to my collection of French, Mandarin, and broken English.

[JeffAtlanta]

With all due respect, although I don't like either him or Souter, they are not even in the same league as the former ACLU lawyer bitch.

Their voting record is very similar and no matter how liberal Ginsburg may be, she is only one vote.

Republicans gave us 7 of the 9 SCOTUS justices that have given us the horrible decisions over the last 20 years. You can't blame demcrats for that.

[XJarhead]

No amnesty! No rewards! This is not negotiable. Not to me.

If the choice is between 1)sealing the border, preventing future illegal immigration, and granting limited amnesty to those illegals already here, and 2) the status quo, which do you prefer?

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Don't you get it?

There is no current bill that enforces restrictions upon illegal immigration, or strengthens the border, which is capable of passing this Congress.

There are only two options available to us.

Either accept amnesty-and the 20+ million illegal aliens that come with it-or fight to see that amnesty is defeated before this session of Congress adjourns.

[bill1952]

your comparison is inflammatory and totally incorrect.

If 12 million Africans came over our borders in the 17 and 1800s they would have been shot on sight.

We all know how that slavery thing worked out for this country, dude.

Millions of Americans dead in Civil war.

[Serenissima Venezia]

If the Democrat had been in power instead of the RINO I would be living in a state where gays could marry and women would have driver's licenses. Geesh.

I don't have a license? How the heck am I going to get to my appointment in half an hour now?

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Bully for you!

[spectre]

"No - I am fluent in Spanish"

Oh, what a big surprise...

sw

[IndyTiger]

How much for a utility statement, you spose?

Oh, probably $99.95 payable in installments. Entrepreneurs with a good color laser printer will be having a field day.