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 ...
"Badges? We don' need no steenking badges!"
"If THEY all agree there is a real devil hidden in the details."
Details? The devil is on the very face of the bill- every illegal alien who came here more than 2 years ago gets to stay. And those who have been here less than 2 just need to make a visit to their friendly neighborhood forgerer to get documents showing they've been here long enough.
This is worse than just making them all legal because we're going to have massive document fraud making our laws look like the jokes they are. I'd rather they just be honest with the people that they are selling out the country.
So those that have been breaking the law LONGER, get a pass??
My head hurts.
"A - M - N - E - S - T - Y ..... Which, when translated means,,,, I'm changing to the CONSTITUTION PARTY."
Oh, no if you do that then Hillary we get elected. We have bend over and compromise every bit of integrity we have if our party is going to survive as a viable entity.
It looks like what I wrote in an earlier post on April 1st, '06 has come true. This is what I wrote:
You could require that all workers produce an ID card similar to a credit card for employment. Such a card would be furnished in Mexico; requiring that all Mexicans travel home for the proper documentation. That would cost us nothing. The database derived from such documentation would be forwarded to the United States. Criminals would not get cards.
For the majority of Mexicans, we are not talking long travel times--three hours max. We would set a deadline for all workers to get cards. The bottom line is that no employer could hire a worker without the card.
With the card, the employer tabs in the card number over the phone for worker verification. Any terminated cards would forbid the worker from being hired. With the card you could track where they are working, make them pay income taxes, control voter data bases and set an expiration date which would force all card holders to undergo a naturalization process within a certain deadline--five years, for instance.
Anyone who commits a felony would have their card terminated. The card would have lots of power. With the use of the card, the game would be over for the idea that if you could get enough people to beat the system, you could overload the system. This system would be managed by a simple database system much like what is already used in the membership systems in such retail outlets as Costco. There is no overload of the system. You simply have to get the card to operate in the United States.
Mexico would have to comply with this system. Their economy is dependent on the money these workers send back to Mexico. If Mexico wants that economic inflow, it will cooperate in implementing the system.
Unless there is a severe punishment for businesses that hire the (still) illegals here under two years, why would they leave? Why would they go home to maybe not come back?
This is crap.
This is only acceptable if we seal our borders first so that we can actually control whether these invaders come back in later.
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.
So, if I steal a car and hide it for five years, do I get to keep it now? ALL illegals should be forced to return home to reapply for entry. Entry should only be allowed AFTER our borders are under control. This proposed part of the immigration bill is a form of amnesty and I am steadfastly opposed.
You mean the more successful criminals get a "get out of jail free" card?
Nice, I'll apply that to paying my taxes.
Also, ICS can't keep up with their workload now. The GAO said there is rampant fraud...and this is going to work with millions of people?
I've got a bridge in Arizona if you're interested.
Then now I know we are in trouble.
They have no idea about the depth of the outrage...
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But that would be asking, it seems, too much.
Of course, it is the Congress Critters that have been undermining the INS enforcement for years. Let INS TRY to do their jobs, and some business will raise holy hell with someone like Chuck Hagel and pressure is brought to bear on the INS to stop.
Can't wait to see millions of illegals lining up to pay the back taxes the open border crowd claims they were paying all along. Nothin but contraditions and loopholes.
It's only ammnesty for those who have been breaking the law for the longest.
But we've been told again and again and again that it is impossible to deport anyone. Now they are telling us that they'll be "required" to go back. Excuse me while I don't hold my breath.
Bipartisanship: when the stupid party allies with the evil party to make law that is both stupid and evil.
>2 and < 5 years how many, what border do they go to, how about OTMs (other than Mexicans)?
Is there still a fine and payment of back taxes?
I want to see the whole bill.
When Mccain and Durbin are smiling, and reid doesn't say "culture of corruption" things cannot be going well for the side that seeks the rule of law enforced when it comes to immigration.
Be afraid, be very very Afraid.
Remember the promise that was part of the final push by the White House to win support for the massive intelligence-overhaul bill, which was stripped of several key immigration reforms so it would pass more easily? Were we not promised border security would be taken care of separately in 2006?
So why is any discussion in Washington these days which address border security now lumped in with how to best to manage social programs for illegal immigrants? Why has the security reform measures for the border as recommended by the 9-11 commission now been changed to "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" which is a buzz word for amnesty with no teeth at the borders, the exact opposite ?
Comprehensive is defined as; Including much; comprising many things; having a wide scope or a full view. While "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" sounds idealist, its not what was promised, and is not workable until we first take control of our wide open borders.
How about a reform comprising of just one thing --border security as promised and lets take care of charity to the third world and guest workers for more business profits after we first secure our border as outlined by lessons learned from 9-11?
Given the way the party is going, WHY do you want it to survive as a viable entity?
I'm going to borrow that for a tagline, if you don't mind?
I'm sorry. Then I guess Hillary will get elected. I'm over getting screwed again and again by our elected officials. They need to be taught a lesson.
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