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an amnesty by any other name smells just the same |
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 ...
Again, amnesty will lead to 12 million unemployable hispanics. That is why we are against "amnesty under any circumstances".
Amnesty will just move the current illegals onto the welfare doles and lead to 20 million more to illegally immigrate to take their place.
I am NOT whining at all.
The House will come to our country's rescue.
ANERICANS FIRST.
ENFORCEMENT FIRST.
$80 billion is very cheap when you consider that illegal immigrants cost that much in social services each year.
Not sure where you got the global recession thing.
City Hall can't open fast enough tomorrow for me to rid myself of my chosen "Republican" party affiliation...not that it matters in Massachusetts. Now the state will be down to four Republicans if none of the other five have decided that enough is enough.
I don't vote Democrat as it is, but I'll be hard pressed to vote Republican again. They've sold us out one too many times.
Any Republican who supports this legislation deserves what he or she gets...be it in 2006, 2008, or 2010.
Here are a dozen posters who want to stop LEGAL immigration too - and that's just one ONE thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1608492/posts
"it would cost $80 billion"
Oh come now, who is smoking the wacky weed here. Even an intermittent fence would slow things down.
And you have yet to show how any illegal would be jack stupid enough to sign up for a guest worker card only to be taxed, finger printed, regulated, subject to minimum wage, located, subject to fines and spindled, folded and mutilated.
So, your solution is no solution, just unlimited Reconquista. Start with the FENCE, then employer sanctions for not following existing wage and tax and OHSHA laws.
Actually some have posted that their anti-abortion stand is a nice benefit. I believe rest of the post said that we could deal with the socialism later.
Because you have been.
That's one possible scenario once every other country reacts to our isolationism.
Sorry for the double post.
Our outrage doesn't translate into mass demonstrations against illegal immigrants. You don't see 500,000 Americans protesting this laissez-faire bill that our congressmen are looking to pass. Yes, we can vote in November, but how much will that really help with what's going on right now? My opinion is that I don't think Americans are mad enough -- we think these illegals won't hurt us directly. Most Americans think they won't move into our neighborhoods or hurt someone they love. It's almost like a "pre-9/11" mentality, except it's how we feel about immigrants. The only thing that will wake us up is if something horrible (God forbid) happens and we lose hundreds, if not, thousands of lives and they can tie it directly to our porous borders and lackadasical enforcement of our current and future immigrations laws. I hope that day never comes, but our Congress is one of reaction, not proaction and that is a shame.
You'd have to ask JeffAtlanta what he is smoking, because "$80 billion" is his figure and I don't smoke.
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an amnesty by any other name smells just the same |
We shall see.
Wow, $80 billion, no kidding!! Not $80 kazillion, because I thought it would be really expensive.
Keep trying, so far you've convinced probably...ummmm...0 Americans that you are right. You governmental types must think we are really stupid.
I agree with you on the issue of illegal immigration, but I strongly feel that the American public just doesn't have the political will for a fence.
The cost isn't a problem, but it would take years to build and funding would eventually be stopped.
I believe that the cutting off of non-emergency social services to illegals including education should be the first step as it has the most bang for the buck.
Couple this will prison time for employers that use illegal labor and most would self deport.
Do I get an apology now?
Every other country, including Mexico, already enforces it's border.
Not sure if you meant to use the word "isolationism" as it doesn't belong here. No one is talking about cutting off trade with other countries.
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