Deal struck on immigration bill (in the Senate, now over to the House for action)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 5/17/07 | Julie Hirschfeld Davis - ap

[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.

[FOXFANVOX]

If this government did the right thing, they would secure the border, not just with platitudes, but secure the border with realistic security. Now. Spending more money on border security than previously is a very weak argument when it is apparent that the money spent previously was inadequate and further the illegal immigration is far worse now than before. Especially since the bait of “amnesty” and "path to citizenship" were waved.

I find it beyond the pale for this country to spend billions on Iraq and allow our own border to remain porous. I find it intolerable that our current Attorney General, who is Hispanic, has supported a purge of US Border Patrol Agents who tried to aggressively do their job.

I have never been so disappointed in our government as I am on this sad day.

[AU72]

Calling the Republican Party the Stupid Party is insulting to stupid people.

[Grunthor]

“The democrats are going to hang this around the republicans head like they did with the “Read my lips” tax increase they passed.”

And the conservatives thatWILL NOT be betrayedany longer will be blamed for not bending over for another one ala Perot leading to Clinton for 8 years. Had Bush 1 not lied to us, he’d have been re-elected and no one would have ever heard of that crazy little f***er.

[PghBaldy]

Yeah, he gave up on the WoT a while back. Notice how he treats US military accused of crimes by terrorists. Note how how he ignores Iran killing our troops. He’s all talk on that, but THIS is what drives him. Nothing else.

[genxer]

i have a question...i dont not want to vote for anyone who supported this. SO who do i vote for. Because there is no choice @ this point.

WE see how good NOT voting @ all has gotten us.

[jveritas]

Really? Why has not Mahmoud the terrorist try this before? Mahmoud the terrorist will come to this country legally carrying his EU or Canadian passport because no visa is required. Mahomoud the terrorist is already here with Green Card or he is a US citizens. Mahmoud the terrorist is not that stupid to take a risk and smuggle across the Mexican borders. I am very much for strong enforcement of the borders because it should be enforced. However I do not buy that the terrorists are coming to the US across the Mexican borders. They are here and coming here as I described above.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Question for all: If the illegals get their green cards, are they allowed to vote?

Not yet, except possibly in certain locales run by nitwits, such as Takoma Park, MD.

[EternalVigilance]

There may be some wacko trolls doing some of it too. The libs like to infiltrate FR with their nastiness to split us several ways. Some will never be smart enough to understand that.

If you really think that the outrage you're seeing has anything to do with trolls, it is you who is "whacked."

[Gvl_M3]

Could you add me to your CWII ping?

I’ve heard grumblings about this for a couple of years.

I think I’ll take my tax refund and buy a couple of guns and lots of ammo.

[longtermmemmory]

while we are calling we have every illegal “press 2 for spanish” calling congress saying “si se puede” demanding amnestia ahora.

[bestrongbpositive]

This will devide the Republican party so badly that even Hillary being the Dems nominee want bring them back together..Get ready for the dems to be in power for many years to com..How could the pubs be this stupid??

[spectre]

What is that odd look on their faces? I don't recognize it? Could it be treason?

sw

[BillyBoy]

>> I predict that John McCain will be out of the race before, or at the same time as, Fred Thompson’s announcement. And, his support will go whole-heartedly to Thompson. <<

Fred Thompson has said he supports a so-called "path to citizenship" for the 20 million already here and voted for amnesty in the past (including for almost one million illegal alien from Nicaragua and elsewhere). In 1996, he also voted to removed higher fines for businesses which hire illegal aliens, and in 2000, he voted for a foreign worker bill with no anti-fraud measures. If you check his voting record, it's virtually the same as the much-hated Lindsey Graham.

The FredHeads may want to pretend it's not, but when they say Graham should tossed from the Senate but Fred should be leader of the free world, they are being hypocrites.

[beltfed308]

Please add me to your ping list also. Thanks in advance.

[4woodenboats]

"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter...

The Illegal Alien Invasion Facilitation Act has come to a boiling point, sez Arlen Spector, Ted Kennedy's butt monkey of the week.

"Take it with a little salt, a little lime, some bootleg tequila, and es not so bad, you know? It kina tastes like munudo. An espeaking of such, I wan you to know I changing me nombre to Arlendo Spectoro Menudo, an you Vato's y tu esposas vote para mio, si?"

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

“Amnesty. Pure and simple.”

Now now, I’m almost positive they called it something else.

Now, everybody, repeat after me:

COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM!!!

[RodgerD]

What kind of a country are we passing onto our kids? What is our country going to look like in 15 or 20 years? Are we even going to recognize large parts of it?

As in the rest of the third world, your kids can still have an OK life, provided they can afford the guarded enclaves and private security of the sort found today in South Africa, Brazil, etc.

Your grandchildren, however, are screwed. The gasoline-fort in "Mad Max" is about the best they can hope for.

[Paige]

WE HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT IN THE NAME OF SOCIALISM!!

[Rutles4Ever]

I have disagreed with you on many points regarding President Bush in the past, but on this matter, I have to say that there was simply no tenable way to get 12 million horses back in the barn. So, here we sit. They're here. We can't deport them (they'll just go into hiding). They're not paying taxes while using the infrastructure. They're not walking around with identification. This has been going on for decades without a whimper from the GOP until 9-11. We looked the other way this whole time and sent the message that the law was toothless. Now we've got twelve million illegal aliens throughout this country. They have children here. We can't (nor should we) break up parents and their children.

I just don't see what other options there were. Instead of everyone reaching for their double-barreled shotguns, it makes a lot more sense to embrace this largely hard-working, Christian, family-oriented underclass and make them Republicans. But, nah. Let's make them enemies instead.

Is it unjust to the millions of immigrants who came here through the system (including my own parents?) and paid their dues. ABSOLUTELY. But we're past the point of reparations on this issue. Reality is, they're not leaving. Naturalize them. Give them amnesty, if only to wipe the slate clean and implement an ironclad system that protects our borders and requires assimilation. This hatred towards illegal aliens is not going to change the system. If Congress has a single brain cell, they will make English the official language of our country and require businesses to pay a penalty for advertising in Spanish, Korean, or whatever language other than English. Anyone naturalized immigrant should be required to take instruction in English proficiency, and be tested in order to receive a driver's license. We can turn these lemons into lemonade, but the fear and hatred of these mostly poor and uneducated people is only dividing us further. It's painful to admit, but it's our own fault for not demanding accountability for the border thirty or forty years ago. And if we choose to marginalize them like human trash, guess who's going to get their votes?

[HonestConservative]

Thank you FFV. YOu said so well,what I am too sickened and repulsed to say myself.

Exactly how does GWB think this amnesty shows any respect or carrying toward American taxpayers.