Posted on 04/06/2006 8:33:43 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Seriously, are you a stand-in for Richard Lewis or something?
This administration has failed-MISERABLY-to enforce pre-existing immigration statutes since President Bush first set foot in office.
He has been the worst POTUS in terms of immigration control in recent memory.
He makes Bill Clinton-whose record on this issue was absolutely atrocious-look like Dwight Eisenhower by way of comparison.
Your brother in law is to be commended.
BILLIONS have been spent on Homeland Security since 9/11 - I think it's something like 64% increase specifially for Coast Guard and Border Patrol - how much more is "enough" for you?
The administration already refuses to enforce the existing immigration laws.
This is precisely the problem.
We shouldn't care what Mexico wants.
For the past five years President Bush has been doing what Mexico wants, and what does he have to show for it?
An angry base, but happy corporate contributers.
Exactly; and the future will bring more of the same.
"BILLIONS have been spent on Homeland Security since 9/11 - I think it's something like 64% increase specifially for Coast Guard and Border Patrol - how much more is "enough" for you?"
$2 billion is my guess, enough to build a 2000 mile wall. A lot cheaper than turning the southwest into a giant Tijuana llanteria/taco shop.
No one is seriously talking about a roundup of illegals. What has been overwhelmingly discussed here are measures to make the current illegals self-deport.
I was off by 2%: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060327-1.html
"The First Element Is Securing Our Border. Since President Bush took office, funding for border security has increased by 66 percent. The Border Patrol has been expanded to more than 12,000 agents, an increase of more than 2,700 agents, or nearly 30 percent. The President's FY07 budget funds another 1,500 new agents. Agents are being provided with cutting-edge technology like infrared cameras, advanced motion sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Protective infrastructure, such as vehicle barriers and fencing in urban areas, is being installed. Manpower, technology, and infrastructure are being integrated in more unified ways than ever before.
The Administration's Border Security Strategy Is Getting Results. Since President Bush took office, agents have apprehended and sent home more than 6 million people entering the country illegally - including more than 400,000 with criminal records. Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement are working together. More than 600,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended through the Arizona Border Control Initiative last year - an increase of more than 50 percent increase over the previous year. The men and women of our Border Patrol have made good progress - but we have much more work ahead, and we will not be satisfied until our agents have full control of our border.
The Administration Is Ending The Practice Of "Catch And Release." The President has set a goal to end "catch and release" over the next year. Most illegal immigrants from Mexico can be returned to Mexico within 24 hours. Non-Mexican illegal immigrants present a different challenge. For decades, government detention facilities did not have enough beds for the non-Mexican illegal immigrants caught at the border - so most were released back into society. They were each assigned a court date, but virtually no one showed up. The Administration is ending the practice of "catch and release" by increasing the number of beds in detention facilities by 12 percent this year; the President's FY07 budget proposes increasing that number by another 32 percent. The Administration is expanding the use of "expedited removal," which allows us to send non-Mexican illegal immigrants home more quickly.
We Are Making Progress In This Effort. Last year, it took an average of 66 days to process a non-Mexican illegal immigrant. Now, the process is taking only 21 days. This has helped us end "catch and release" for illegal immigrants from Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua caught crossing our Southwest border. Since last summer, the total number of non-Mexican illegal immigrants released into society has been cut by more than a third. There is more work ahead, and the Administration will work with Congress to close loopholes that make it difficult to process illegal immigrants from certain countries and will continue pressing foreign governments like China to take back their citizens who enter our country illegally.
The Second Element Is Strengthening Enforcement Of Our Laws In The Interior Of Our Country. Since President Bush took office, funding for immigration enforcement has increased by 42 percent. These resources have helped agents bring to justice smugglers, terrorists, gang members, and human traffickers. For example, through Operation Community Shield, Federal agents have arrested nearly 2,300 gang members who were in America illegally, including violent criminals like the members of the "MS-13" gang.
Better Interior Enforcement Requires Better Worksite Enforcement. Last year, President Bush signed legislation to more than double the resources dedicated to worksite enforcement. Next month, the Administration will launch new law enforcement task forces in 11 cities to dismantle document fraud rings."
Do you also want to stop all LEGAL immigration too?
It would more likely be around $80 billion but that is ok with me. I think the Isreali wall is estimated to cost $2 million per kilometer.
You apparently do.
This is precisely the problem.
Deporting is not the problem. Keeping them in Mexico is the problem.
For the past five years President Bush has been doing what Mexico wants, and what does he have to show for it?
A second term.
What illegal drugs are they ON?
Plea bargin?
What about EXISTING LAWS making this ILLEGAL?
You can teach the "rest of" the RINOs all you want. But if the electorate continues to get drunk from pork and pandering from RINOs and liberals alike, then as time goes on, true conervatives will be more scarce, and more difficult to elect.
In short, if you have no strategy to force incumbent RINOs to vote more conservatively, then you have no strategy to convince the electorate to vote for more conservative candidates, either.
This current crop of Democrat-Lite Republicans (led by President Bush) are the kings of pandering and pork barrel spending.
What a farcical question. How do you equate ILLEGAL immigration with following what is legal?
Do you ask someone who is against drunk driving if they are also against anyone driving at all?
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