Posted on 03/08/2007 5:21:04 AM PST by SJackson
(CNSNews.com) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday promised to push comprehensive immigration reform through the U.S. Senate before the August recess, saying he hopes to get it passed much sooner.
Reid made the pledge at a news conference in the U.S. Capitol with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and other sponsors of legislation that would allow illegal immigrants residing in the United States a path to "earned citizenship," while ramping up enforcement of U.S. borders.
"This debate is about security, certainly border security, but it is also about our humanity and our decency," Kennedy said.
He said the Democrats' proposal does not amount to amnesty for lawbreakers - as critics charge - because it does not put illegal immigrants at the front of the line for citizenship, but instead would require work and sacrifice on their part.
"Those who distort and misrepresent this legislation do an enormous disservice to the American people," Kennedy said of the critics.
"We hope that the voices of hatred and bigotry will silence themselves for this debate so that America can truly be America, the land of opportunity and the great land of our immigrant heritage," he added.
According to a statement released by Kennedy's office, he hopes earned citizenship will help protect undocumented workers who are "easy targets for exploitation by unscrupulous employers." He also favors easing immigration policies to allow "the lawful entry of workers to meet the needs of our economy."
The statement also emphasized a need to better enforce immigration policy at the border. "We can't solve the problem of undocumented workers and adopt a successful temporary worker program unless we can control our borders," it said.
Simon Rosenberg, founder of the New Democrat Network, said the group is dedicated to seeing immigration reform pass through Congress. "Passing comprehensive immigration reform will do something the American people want us to do," he said.
Kennedy's tough rhetoric on opponents of his plan didn't seem to faze them. Kurt Bardella, a spokesman for Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), maintained that Kennedy's plan amounts to amnesty.
"Any policy that allows someone who has violated our laws and is in this country illegally to continue to be here in this country and enjoy benefits, I don't know how you could not call that amnesty," he told Cybercast News Service.
"The answer to illegal immigration is not rewarding illegal behavior," Bardella said.
Bilbray is the new chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, a group of anti-amnesty lawmakers formerly headed by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.).
Bardella said there is some common ground between comprehensive-reform Democrats and anti-amnesty Republicans, including increased enforcement along the border and against employers who violate the law, as well as the idea of a guest worker program.
"There is nothing wrong with a guest worker program ... where applicants would have to come from outside of the country, not people who are here illegally," he said.
If there is one thing all sides agree on, it's that the public wants something done about illegal immigration. Recent polling suggests Americans want immigration reform to include increased border security and a sensible way to deal with the millions of illegal immigrants currently living here.
A CNN/Gallup poll released this week found that 59 percent of Americans support allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the United States and become citizens if they meet "certain requirements over a period of time." Only 24 percent support deporting all illegal residents.
In a Quinnipiac University poll conducted in November 2006, 63 percent of respondents supported punishing businesses that employ illegal immigrants. The same poll found 69 percent support for a "guest worker program" that would allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship without having to leave the country.
Another poll, by CNN in October 2006, found that a majority of Americans support building a fence along the 700-mile border with Mexico.
Bardella said that rather than try to pass everything at once in a comprehensive reform package, Democrats in control of the House and Senate should first focus on issues where there is common ground.
"At least begin to make some progress on this issue because it has gone unaddressed for far too long," he urged.
Bardella promised that Republicans are "not going to support any policy that's going to induce the problem."
Kennedy might get his bill through, but I would suggest they key to any legislation is the man in the Oval Office. How much gets given away to get the treasured guest worker program. Will it be on any terms.
McCain is voting yes of course for the Shamesty.
Well of course. Dingy Harry has to grant amnesty to at least 15,000,000 new Democrat voters so they can vote for Hillary! next year. Time's a-wasting. If Mitch McConnell doesn't come up with a way to delay this, so that it doesn't land on Jorge Bush's desk for his certain signature, the Republican Party is dead. And that might not be a bad thing.
Yeah -- like the DREAM act was just re-submitted. Six years' worth of VISA for students, plus being able to bring spouses, children and parents with them....and if they get caught engaging in fraud or overstaying, it can't be used against them in adjudicating any other Immigration matter...basically, amnesty for students. Feh.
In the mean time, I'm sure Howard Dean will keep us informed as to how terrible things are in this Country with the GOP in office. Not fit for an illegal alien he'll say.
This battle has been lost. We will get some form of convoluted immigration reform.
It will, over time, give us a massive number of new citizens and greatly effect voting demographics negatively.
It won't provide border security or inland enforcement in any meaningful way.
It will send a message to future border jumpers to keep coming for another future payoff.
I don't think the demorats are going to do much more than lip service unless there is a whole bunch of rhino's helping them. The majority of Americans are opposed to illegals and ted's & jorg's amnesty program. The poll results is the result of the spin in the question.
Kennedy/Guiliani/McCain plan?
Rudy has a history of strongly enforcing SOME laws. However, if he disagrees with the laws, he ignores them or outright obstructs their enforcement.
He's a man of strong convictions, and he has shown consistently that he has little respect for the constitution or the rule of law if it gets in his way.
That is a very dangerous kind of man to elect President.
I bet Bush cant wait to sign this legislation in - he want to by seen as the single person to sink the death nail into our nation. Bush will be judged very badly in history from the left and the right - one of the worst presidents of all time and certainly the reason why I wont be voting for another RINO, like Rudy, ever again.
It is not just voting demographics that will be affected, it will be demographics period. If you legalize the 12 to 20 million already here, you will have a major impact on the population of this country given the impact of chain migration.
Here are some census figures:
1970--203 million Americans
1980--227 million
1990--249 million
2000--281 million
Today--301 million
2030 [Projected]--364 million
2050 [Projected]--400 million
Imagine, since the last census in 2000, we have added 20 million people or more than the combined populations of NYC, Chicago, and LA. In the 1990s our population increase of 32 million is about the size of California, our most populous state.
More than likely, these Bureau of the Census figures understate the true population given the fact that many illegals did not participate. Some estimate that if the Senate bill is passed, we have at least 500 million people by 2050 because of the chain migration effect. The number of legal immigrants who would enter the country or would gain legal status under S. 2611 falls from 103 million to around 66 million over the next 20 years.
More than three quarters of our current population growth comes from immigrants, legal and illegal. Moreover 10% of all babies born in the US come from illegal immigrants.
You must be kidding. S2611 passed last time 62 to 36 with 2 not voting. The Dems [including Jeffords] voted 39 to 4 FOR with Rockefeller and Salazar not voting. The REPS voted 32 to 23 AGAINST it. Among those 32 were Allen, Burns, and Santorum who are no longer there. We can't even stop cloture this time around. Our only real hope lies in the House where 36 Dems voted with us last time on the enforcement first bill.
The inability of our Washington Lawmakers to think "ahead" with regard to CIR is frightening. It's opening up an entire new set of problems we won't be able to deal with..
sw
My impression, it's if you're here, you've earned it. My guess that's what will be in the Senate bill, and it will be signed.
Then were doomed.
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