Immigration Proposal Aims to Bridge Republican Divide

The Washington Post ^ | July 25, 2006 | Jim VandeHei and Charles Babington

[AppleButter]

In an attempt to strike a pre-election Republican compromise on immigration, two conservative lawmakers unveiled a plan today that would allow most of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States a chance to work here legally, but only after the government certifies that U.S. borders have been sufficiently secured.

The proposal -- sponsored by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Tex.) and Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.) -- would pressure illegal immigrants to "self-deport" to their home countries within two years of the law's enactment and apply for a new kind of visa that would allow them to return to the United States quickly and work legally if a job awaits them. They would have to work here for 17 years, however, to be eligible for U.S. citizenship.

-- snip --

The impasse will not be easy to break. The push for a pre-election compromise has lost its sense of urgency, as both sides privately calculate that no deal might be the best politics and produce the best policy.

[Marine Inspector]

Rewarding criminals is not the answer and never will be.

Pence's plan rewards criminals.

[Jameison]

"allow most of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States a chance to work here legally, but only after the government certifies that U.S. borders have been sufficiently secured"

Why do we have to bribe a bunch of illegal law breakers before our government secures our borders like they are sworn to?
Secure the borders. Period.

[Old_Mil]

Sorry, no deal.

[Jameison]

Excellent letter.

[finallyatexan]

Could you please find one for me too !!

[Old_Mil]

The all or nothing crowd really don`t want to solve the illegal immigration problem. More fun to moan and complain plus they get to help Rats win elections. Pretty neat deal---for them but hell for the country.

Out of curiousity, do you believe that winning the war on terror is an "all-or-nothing" proposition? How about protecting children from pedophiles? You might want to save your empty rhetoric for a crowd that's stupider than the one that reads this website.

[Shermy]

I thought the Washington Post was going to provide "fair" coverage on the immigration issue. Now they are just touting the National Chamber of Commerce's plan they stuck into the hands of their second tier lackey Pence, a person looking to be paid off in return for future promises of cash for his fantasy 2008 prez run.

[AppleButter]

....we still have to deal with the problem of 11-20 million angry (mostly) men of military age who've already shown a willingness to get in the street, in our face.

And the number keeps growing every day.

[RSmithOpt]

Exactly!!!

Why does no reporter on TV in the mainstream media ask the point blank question?

Why is it no politician or government official seems to have the ability to state exactly that fact as to why their level of government chooses not to enforce this aspect of federal law? So, is fraud, bribery, armed robbery, embezzlementm murder and hate speech the only government enforced laws now?

Why is it no reporter will press a government official to start to enforce its own laws?

I think employers should immediately be required to verify immigration status before for all new employees are hired and put on the payroll.

"The Pence-Dunce Plan"??

[MrEdd]

Immigration Proposal Aims to Wedge Republican Divide

[mysterio]

They keep their jobs. The employers who hired them get to keep hiring them, except now we call them legal instead of illegal. And they can choose whether or not to leave when the visa runs out. How is this not amnesty?

[Finop]

There is always excellence in truth! :)

[Politicalmom]

Me, too.

We can find one big enough, and found "FReeperland".

[AppleButter]

More fun to moan and complain plus they get to help Rats win elections. Pretty neat deal---for them but hell for the country.

It's the pro-immigration crowd that will guarantee the Democrats permanent control over the country. Illegal aliens are the raw material for Democrat voter fraud, and since Mexicans are natural-born socialists, they'll go with the Democrats if they become citizens.

[texastoo]

The all or nothing crowd really don`t want to solve the illegal immigration problem.

We thougt the problem was solved with Reagan. But since we have had Bush, Clinton, Bush nothing has been solved. As ol George Wallace said, "there isn't a dime's worth of difference in them."

[TChris]

Explain how you will "pressure them to self-deport" when you've already announced, repeatedly, that you won't actually deport illegals? Every politician (except, Tancredo, AFAIK) is spouting the tired mantra, "You can't realistically deport every illegal immigrant." While this statement is false and misses the point, it shows the pervasive lack of resolve on the part of our legislators and the executive.

Fellas, you've already shown your hand. Now you're going to bluff?

[AppleButter]

Fellas, you've already shown your hand. Now you're going to bluff?

Excellent point.

[finallyatexan]

That would be GREAT - can I be President !!

[dalereed]

The long term plan has never changed.

You can never have One World Government until the standard of living in this country is reduced to 3rd world level.

That's what it's all about on the bottom line.

[Luke21]

You ought to see all the malcontents with bad backs, homeless people and mentally ill folks lapping up our Social Security. I drive them places for a living. It would make you very ill.