Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
Why did JD Hayworth lose his re-election seat?
Robert Rector is on Mark Levin now, he is saying this will cost the taxypayers over $2.5 Trillion in benefits. He is giving a well reasoned and passion talk about how he is astounded by this bill. Try to listen... depressing but necessary to hear.
Where I work, in the consultant tech field 90 percent are H1b. India, Pakistan, Egypt. It’s all lost. It really is and those not working in the field have no idea.
From the 2006 (lst Qtr) INS/FBI Statistical Report on Undocumented Immigration:
12 Americans are murdered every day by illegal aliens. (that’s more than 21,900 murders by illegal aliens since September 11, 2001)
13 people per day are killed by illegal immigrants who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. An additional 4,745 premature deaths per year.
62% of all “undocumented immigrants” in the United States are working for cash and not paying taxes, predominantly illegal aliens, working without a green card.
95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
83% of warrants for murder in Phoenix are for illegal aliens.
86% of warrants for murder in Albuquerque are for illegal aliens.
75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Albuquerque are illegal aliens.
More than 380,000 “anchor babies” born in the United States in 2005 were to parents who are illegal aliens; making those 380,000 babies automatically U.S. citizens. 97.2% of all costs incurred from those births were paid by the American taxpayer.
More than 66% of all births in California are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal, whose births were paid for by taxpayers.
24.9% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.
40.1% of all inmates in Arizona detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.
48.2% of all inmates in New Mexico detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.
29% (630,000) of the inmates in all state and federal prisons are illegal aliens—at a cost of $1.6 billion annually.
More than 53% of all investigated burglaries reported in California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas are perpetrated by illegal aliens.
More than half of all gang members in Los Angeles are illegal aliens from south of the border.
More than 43% of all Food Stamps issued are to illegal aliens.
More than 41% of all unemployment checks issued in the United States are to illegal aliens.
58% of all welfare payments in the United States are issued to illegal aliens.
Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties in the United States are illegal aliens.
14 out of 31 TV stations in L.A. are Spanish-only.
16 out of 28 TV stations in Phoenix are Spanish only.
15 out of 24 TV stations in Albuquerque are Spanish-only.
More than 34% of Arizona students in grades 1-12 are illegal aliens.
More than 24% of Arizona students in grades 1-12 are non-English speaking.
More than 39% of California students in grades 1-12 are illegal aliens.
More than 42% of California students in grades 1-12 are non-English speaking.
In Los Angeles County, 5.1 million people speak English and 3.9 million speak Spanish.
More than 71% of all apprehended cars stolen in 2005 in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California were stolen by illegal aliens or transport “coyotes.”
47% of cited/stopped drivers in California have no license, no insurance, and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 47%, 92% are illegal aliens.
63% of cited/stopped drivers in Arizona have no license, no insurance, and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 63%, 97% are illegal aliens.
66% of cited/stopped drivers in New Mexico have no license, no insurance, and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 66%, 98% are illegal aliens.
Less than 2% of illegal aliens in the United States are picking crops, but 41% are on welfare.
Over 70% of the United States annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from illegal immigration, at a cost of nearly $68,000,000,000.00 annually.
I agree. We were just talking about how we are no longer being represented by our so-called representatives when nearly 80 percent of Americans have demanded a halt to this invasion. And what do our leaders do? Grant amnesty and reward these people?
This is nuts.
Rector is giving actuarial numbers on how they will get much more out of the “broke” system than they will ever put it. It is worse for our children than we may even realize.
Here’s a few of the ironies of what you’re doing:
A) You’re standing up for lawbreakers who are poisoning the atmosphere for all immigrants, even the legal ones.
B) Those you are defending are screwing up the system for legal immigration, forcing hundreds of thousands of people just like you to stand at the end of a line they’ll never see the front of.
I’ve been to citizenship ceremonies for folks from all over the globe. They’re one of the most inspiring things you could ever witness. Naturalized Americans tend to be among our most patriotic citizens, taking far less for granted than those who were born here.
Your position is undermining the very people I’ve just described.
It is our right to decide who comes here, not the right of those who break in, break our laws, and destroy the rule of law.
You’re as wrong as you could possibly be.
I would imagine that even in CO Tancredo is strongly opposed by the rapidly growing liberal electorate.
Yeah,I heard the same thing on John and Ken is SoCal. I believe the numbers come from the Heritage Foundation. It is just plain unsustainable. It will literally kill this country. Lord, help us.
DO YOU ALL WANT TO PAY 2 AND A HALF TRILLION MORE IN TAXES?????????
With all due respect, as someone who has lived in Miami, Chicago, and (most of his life) in and around New York, the SECOND GENERATION ALWAYS PREFERS ENGLISH TO SPANISH! The problem is that we have a FLOOD of first generation folks, which is why you see all the signs in Spanish (or Portuguese or Chinese in certain other areas).
Do you realize how ironic your statement is. Your second sentence is what was accomplished by your first.
With all due respect, as someone who has lived in Miami, Chicago, and (most of his life) in and around New York, the SECOND GENERATION ALWAYS PREFERS ENGLISH TO SPANISH! The problem is that we have a FLOOD of first generation folks, which is why you see all the signs in Spanish (or Portuguese or Chinese in certain other areas).
We heard it to.
We are being robbed blind, and the powers that be don’t give a d*mn.
I agree, they are no longer representing the American people.
It was other issues that brought him down.
I can't believe some of you people. Do you not know your history. We're not in Kansas anymore toto.
H1bs get education cheap and American companies hire cheap. Get and pay for all the education you want, if you're not willing to work for less, you are wasting your time and money. I see it. I live it.
By one illegal, or one busload, at a time.
If you look at a lawn that has become infested with weeds, what do you do?
Do you throw up your hands, and abandon the lawn to the weeds?
Or do you at least make an _attempt_ to clean things up?
You start the cleanup by pulling out one weed at a time.
You may not get them all, but that's beside the point. You do SOMETHING.
This "reform bill" gives our garden to the weeds. Plain and simple.
- John
1. Greatly increase the border security to stop the flood of illegal immigrant.
2. Grant temporary working status for the illegal immigrants that need to be renewed every 2 years with a fine. The temporary workers must no have access to any welfare program and must not obtain US citizenship in any way, that will be the ultimate penalty they should pay for coming here illegally. May be the best they can obtain is a Permanent Residence status (Green Card) after they have been law abiding temporary workers for 10 years.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.