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.
“Anti-business conservatives”
Meaning someone who doesn’t believe in exploiting Mexican labor? Or someone who believes in enforcing the law?
I too would add that you are entitled to our support. I have not read all of your postings, but I did not totally agree with what I did read. I bet I can infer that you did not agree with mine. But, you have been civil and that alone deserves a medal. I am also aware of many of the good things you have done for Free Republic and I think all of us on this Thread would do well to focus our anger at the politicians who have brought about this travesty, and not waste it beating up on ourselves.
Thank you very much for sharing that info with me. I will try to put it to good use.
You are dreaming.
Bush has been obnviously following orders from day one. One of his orders was to open the borders so the oligarchs would have a steady supply of cheap labor. Another was to destroy the Reagan conservative movment. You should note that posse comitatus was eliminated a few months ago.
Thank you very much. Some folks on this thread went into my personal life and unjustly used it as a talking point debate, but all is forgiven.
I do not know where you are, but in Kansas new immigrants are not exactly taking high-tech jobs.
They are taking the manual labor positions that most don’t want anyway. The one problem area is they are flooding construction jobs, lowering wages.
It’s been evident for decades that the fat slob, Kennedy, is more interested in what his country can do for him than what he can do for his country. Not to mention his whole damn family. When do we get a government that represents the interests of the American people. Congress is on it’s way to creating 12 million new Democratic voters, and Kennedy knows this, even if the Republicans don’t.
“I like it.” (new here, not sure how to put your comments in italics)
I thought it was rough over here today, but Hot Air is really having at it. Even the usually calm RedState is very lively. I noticed LGF didn’t even post an article about this amnesty bill: probably couldn’t stand the strain. It’s been fun today, trying to work off some of the frustration of this hopeless situation that seems to be looming in our near future
NO it isn't. Blackbird.
I'd suggest you mind your own business. Blackbird.
Perhaps we can ask Jim Robinson to pull the Pro Bush crap off Free Republic. I know longer give a dam about the guy.
Do you mean the Daily Dose?
LOL.
I wrote both my senators, my representative, Mitch McConnell, and I wrote McCain through his presidential campaign web site.
I may call them all tomorrow if I can slip out of work (can’t call them from my work phone).
As a person who supports “limited amnesty”, I am appalled at what I’m hearing in this plan, so I imagine people who oppose all amnesty should be outraged.
Here’s the e-mail I sent:
Honorable Senator xxxx,
I write in strong opposition to the described “compromise” immigration bill to be taken up next week.
I have been a supporter of “reasonable” amnesty, after we seal the borders, and with a crackdown on employers of illegals. I even support a somewhat expanded guest worker program like that proposed by President Bush, which allows the workers to be here for a short period of time and then requires them to go home.
I’ve even supported a form of “punishment in place” for illegals who have been here more than 5 years, who have paid taxes for those 5 years, held a job during that time, and have shown by their actions (learning english, buying or renting a home, etc.) that they are interested in assimilating into our culture. My idea was that those people would pay a yearly “fee” to stay here while they waited their turn in “line” to become a legal holder of a normal visa.
In some ways, that could sound like the “Z” visa. But as I understand it, the plan the Senate has drawn up offers this type of deal to every illegal here already, even if they’ve only been here a few days. That is unacceptable. Also allowing their families to come is unacceptable, giving them all visas that last forever is unacceptable.
The program I’ve heard described is not fair to those unfortunate illegals who got caught and sent home, much less those who turned themselves in trying to become legal and got deported. It’s not fair to the people who are still waiting to legally enter, and people who waited to legally enter.
It’s not fair to the american workers who are pushed out of low-paying but good jobs by the illegals, or to the tax-paying citizens who have been footing the bill for all the illegals attending our schools and using our services.
I urge you to stand firm for a bill that only grants limited amnesty to long-term, well-settled illegals. You can start with ensuring that EVERY illegal here less than a year is sent packing, ANY illegal here who can’t speak english should be sent home, ANY illegal who didn’t pay taxes should be deported, ANY illegal who spent time on welfare, or receiving government assistance should be required to PAY IT BACK in addition to the fine for being here.
AND NO PLAN should give ANYTHING to the illegals already here until it first has sealed the borders and stepped up the enforcement. We need the fence, we need more border agents.
Sincerely,
To call somebody a racist does not make you a racist (and this argument is surprising since I would expect you would realize the irony of reflection upon yourself). And even if it did or if diverting attention somehow did, it is not a valid reason alone to label somebody a racist. It does not meet the criteria I recommended to be sure beyond any reasonable doubt (because you have not clarified if the action or statement was intentional—consider the fundamental attribution error).
Google “Americans killed by Illegals”. Maybe 1.2 million hits or so. Let me know should you run out of material. Blackbird.
Why is the GWOT also not including the entire “Invasion” of illegals here throughout the U.S.? All of these politicians who want both cheap labor and votes from illegals while also thumbing their noses at everyone else throughout the U.S. who abides by all of the present U.S. laws will be severely punished very soon-both in this world and in the next world!
Good reply. Do I take that to mean you're opposed to legal immigration, too? Are you a better class of citizen than first generation citizens? Does your opinion matter more than theirs?
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