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 ...
Republicans in Congress are just asking for a wake up call in 2006.
I'm sick too over this invasion and the Senate sellout-guest worker-amnesty. The best we can hope is the House blocks any bill. But then we still lose because the dregs of the world will continue jamming across our undefended borders.
AMNESTY is a criminal farce because the Feds will be hit with millions of fraudulent amnesty applications but will rubber stamp them to avoid the hassle and lawsuits. Plus the Feds don't have the manpower to properly vet 12-20 million amnesty applications
Precisely my point. If California couldn't control their own puny border with Mexico with Reagan as gov and President who had the greatest popularity in modern history, how do you expect Bush to as he is one of the weakest in popularity? I personally have no problem with spreading all of our nuclear waste along the border making it deadly for 10,000 years, but the political reality is much different and unless something is done to try and convert these guys to citizens we will eventually be faced with ceding California back to Mexico.
Hey, thanks for the no nonsense reply.
You don't think that it is workable.
I do.
I can live with that :^)
Still, we might get a good pick. Whereas a Dem is a certainty of a wackjob, globalist liberal. Bush and Congress should all be tossed out on their butts for this amnesty scheme.
Do YOU have any contempt for the criminals who burned American falgs, flew Mexican ones, etc.?
Music to my ears.
O.K., how about "amnesty with added paperwork" then? Would that make you happy? Probably not, because you really seem so upset about "BREAKING THE LAW" - would you be as upset if the feds and States suddently repealed the speed limit and a bunch of WHITE people, who had pending speeding tickets, got amnesty (with or without paperwork)?
You know what they say: be careful what you wish for.
Where is he being jeered?
I think it only fair to make that "Republicans in THE SENATE....".
You may respectfully disagree, but at least the House is trying to pass a bill with border security in mind.
Where!? I want to listen? Link?
I have no congresscritter (thanks, Duke!) and there is no point calling Boxer and Feinstein.
Hey! I answered that - and even left a nice picture above!
8^)
Ya think Durbin would say anything different to me in another call? All I know is I will get the truth out as best I can, and even if I have to hold my nose when I vote, I will NOT contribute to any liberal Rat advantage ANYwhere.
I was pretty young too - I wasn't expecting you to answer them, but I believe the proposal is anyone in the U.S. less than 5 years has to return to their home country - I just wanted to make sure you saw today's talking points ; )
Looks like ignore me legislation for illegals.
By the way, Sen. Kyl is going to be in my small town Saturday for a luncheon that I plan to attend. If he gives in and supports this amnesty crap he's not going to have an enjoyable luncheon if I have anything to do with it. It will be time to pull out my bullhorn and raise the rabble to protest this garbage. No Amnesty! No Rewards!
I thought we were in 2006?! Man, that daylight savings time really has thrown me off.
His home-base, 77-WABC.
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