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.
Read about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback
An excerpt:
The operation began in California and Arizona and coordinated 1,075 Border Patrol agents along with state and local police agencies to mount an aggressive crackdown, going as far as police sweeps of Mexican-American neighborhoods and random stops and ID checks of "Mexican-looking" people in a region with many Native Americans and native Hispanics. Some 750 agents targeted agricultural areas with a goal of 1000 apprehensions a day. By the end of July, over 50,000 aliens were caught in the two states. Around 488,000 people fled the country for fear of being apprehended. By September, 80,000 had been taken into custody in Texas, and the INS estimates that 500,000-700,000 illegals had left Texas voluntarily. To discourage re-entry, buses and trains took many illegals deep within Mexico before being set free. Tens of thousands more were put aboard two hired ships, the Emancipation and the Mercurio. The ships ferried the aliens from Port Isabel, Texas, to Veracruz, Mexico, more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) south.
Result
Operation Wetback deported approximately 80,000 Mexican nationals in the space of almost a year, although local INS officials claimed that an additional 500,000-700,000 had fled to Mexico before the campaign began. The INS estimates rested on the claim that most undocumented people, fearing apprehension by the government, had voluntarily repatriated themselves before and during the operation.
I am not a “Bush bot”, but I do happen to agree with President Bush that amnesty is better for the country than civil war.
Instead of personally insulting me and droning on and on about the amnesty bill, you could turn your attention to something more important like this: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1835493/posts
You think the illegal aliens will start a civil war between the legal citizens? If so, that's an urgent reason to get rid of them, pronto.
Or did you mean the illegal invaders would start a war with the legal citizens? If thats true, we should fight them now before they get any stronger.
I'm not sure, just what did you mean?
I meant that attempted deportation would cause a civil war between American guest workers and their supporters on one side and those attempting to expel them from their homes on the other.
If the illegal invaders (I assume when you say "guest workers" you're referring to the illegal invaders)would resort to violence if this Country attempted to enforce it's own laws, I would be more than willing to take up arms against them. They would have proven the fact that they are not fit to live in a country where the rule of law prevails. They can go back to their own country where the form of government is corruption. Remember, conservatives strongly support the Second Amendment because we have most of the guns.
That is a defeatist and, quite frankly, racist statement.
Interestingly, I haven’t seen the Bush-Bots who used to flame my ass anywhere near this thread. They must be on vacation.
You are certainly not a conservative but you come on a conservative forum and call people racist just like liberals do.
Are you, perchance, a troll?
The "send-a-messagers" brought us to this point, and frankly, their screaming about how they aren't responsible for the choice they made on last election day is hilarious, as we're supposed to be the ones who want to hold people responsible for their own actions. Hypocrites.
The idea that there is one party or one candidate who is perfect is a myth, and those who only vote for myths are not intelligent people. I have no use for such, and they have no answers for a workable solution, none.
As much as it may shock you, one’s opinions on immigration are not what defines them as a conservative.
Thank you for the compliment...I'm sure my grandchildren would agree with you!
I think it will be best for me to support Democrats and their policies and to get everything I can and more. I want to live out my days in comfort on your dime. Why worry about a third world America that will follow my passing. Let the Bush girls worry about that.
I think you are being facetious, but in case you are serious; I don't plan on you living in comfort on my dime! No. 1 reason...I'm probably older than you, but more importantly, I hope to leave this world a better place for my grandchildren to live in. That means I have got to stand up for what is right, and it sure as heck isn't the Democrat philosophy! This former Bush woman plans on letting him know he's betrayed my trust, and he can't depend on another cent from me. I've supported him even when I haven't agreed with his positions because I thought it was important to have a united front while our military was fighting a war on foreign soil. However, I think Bush has failed to protect our borders, and he has 'given in' to Democrats too often in his effort to act in a conciliatory manner. All his yielding to them (Democrats) has brought him nothing but contempt, and he will end up with his legacy being the President that destroyed the Republican Party! But I intend to try to stop this madness by letting Congress know they can and will be replaced!
Yep, the war in Iraq is costing blood and treasure...for what ??...the new North American Union ??... the Constitution and the Oath of Office means nothing to the Ruling Class as this is pure TREASON...Bush is truly morphing into a complete pathetic joke...the Heritage Foundation says this Amnesty will cost the U.S. taxpayers 2.2 TRILLION dollars...
Then we may have to look elsewhere if the House approves this piece of treason.
There is no way anyone could seperate me from my children. I would TAKE MY KIDS WITH ME!!! This is one of the most tiresome arguments out there. What? Because their kids were born here we own them? Give me a break. How sad that these people use their children as a reason to stay here in spite of breaking the law. How many got pregnant and had a kid immediately upon arriving here just for that reason?
I live in Gwinnett as well. It used to feel like Mayberry where I live but now the illegals are spreading towards us like a wildfire. They had to take the youth sports programs out of Lucky Shoals park because of the gangs, Norcross forget about it, it’s gone. We have to make sure John Linder does not go along with this even though so two LIARS ISAKSON AND CHAMBLISS DID. Linders home town of Duluth, which up until recently was one of the better places in Gwinnett to live is now quickly becoming a $hithole. People I know who live there said they can’t get out of there fast enough. I absolutely love Georgia, I hate what is happening here. We are looking to move east to Walton or Oconee County but it will be a real hardship workwise.
Great quote!
I have 3 children, I would have loved to have 5 but guess what? I could not afford to have 5 because I am responsible for them. Nobody pays for me and my family. I know alot of people think abortion is what is shrinking the American family but I think alot of middle class families that pay their own way have smaller families because thats all they can afford. We do have a standard of living and don’t live on handouts.
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.