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.
How many employers you need to jail? A million? Or do you think if you jail 1000 employer the remaining 999,000 will be afraid. Just do not count on it.
I can’t support a position that bears striking resemblance to the ponderings of the “Jewish question” c. 1935.
It’s an abomination to treat these people like human trash.
I’m all in favor of giving the government as much power as it needs to seal the borders, but we’re heading down a road of vile scapegoating when it comes to illegal aliens. Take the politicians to task for their dereliction. The illegal immigrant is no more an opportunist than they are.
I tried to call and the mailbox is full. I tried to switch to an operator and go into a loop of invalid ext. Mailbox is full — wonder why?
It's only impossible to a nation that lacks the will. They would not be deported in a day, or a week, or a year. But building a fence, guarding that fence, deporting illegals as you find them and a few other measures absolutely would turn this trend around.
It's only impossible because too few politicians have the desire to make it happen, and too few voters are insisting on it.
I think it could be sold politically as "aligning our immigrant policy with that of the rest of the world". Heck, just align our immigrant policy with Mexico's! We are the only nation that allows such rampant overrun by illegals and does next to nothing to deter it. We effectively give them free health care, free education, a driver's license and a ballot as the consequence of illegally entering / remaining in our country. It's insane, and no other nation on earth acts the same way.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 17, 2007
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
ON IMMIGRATION
South Lawn
3:25 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Secretary Gutierrez and Secretary Chertoff have just briefed me about the negotiations on the comprehensive immigration bill that just concluded in the Senate. I want to thank, first of all, my Secretaries for being involved in the process, being engaged in this important issue, and helping move the process forward. I congratulate members of the Senate, both political parties, who decided it was time to work together to come up with a comprehensive immigration bill that addresses a major problem facing our country. After weeks of long work, these negotiations came to a successful conclusion.
I want to thank the members of the Senate who worked hard. I appreciate the leadership shown on both sides of the aisle. As I reflect upon this important accomplishment, important first step toward a comprehensive immigration bill, it reminds me of how much the Americans appreciate the fact that we can work together — when we work together they see positive things.
Immigration is a tough issue for a lot of Americans. The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our borders, but equally importantly, it will treat people with respect. This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty, but without animosity.
And so I want to thank you all very much for representing the White House. I thank the senators for working hard. I look forward to a good vote out of the United States Senate as quickly as Leader Reid can get the bill moving, and then of course we look forward to working with the House of Representatives to take this first step and convert it into a successful second step. I really am anxious to sign a comprehensive immigration bill as soon as I possibly can. Today we took a good step toward that direction.
Thank you.
END 3:27 P.M. EDT
My hunch is that the left turn was quite a few miles back down the road...
There are 12 to 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS not immigrants. They are already here, but we don't have to reward them by granting them legal status. First, we need to secure our borders [including visa overstays], second we need to enforce the laws on the books, and third, we need to collect data to see how many illegals are actually here. We can't make good public policy without good data.
Are we going to send 500 police to a compound housing illegal immigrants and their families kick the doors of apartment and pull out people and put them in buses? Are the police going to raid the malls and the restaurants and arrest the illegal immigrants?How many informants we need to tell us about the location of illegal immigrants? To do this America will have to become a POLICE STATE
Oh, please. Stop making those of us who want the enforcement of our laws into some sort jackbooted Nazi stormtroopers. These people aren't victims, they are lawbreakers.
The day this becomes law is my last as a Republican.
There are some Republicans that get it. Here is a message from My Senator Craig Thomas from Wy. We need more like him!!!
May 17th, 2007 - WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Craig Thomas said the immigration compromise recently struck in the Senate allows blanket amnesty and will cost our nation vast amounts of money in entitlement spending.
“Senate deal-makers have failed to make the necessary changes to enact a strong national immigration policy. What we have before us will grant amnesty at most every turn. This policy affords a path to citizenship for nearly every type of illegal immigration possible.”
“This poorly crafted compromise will end up costing taxpayers trillions of dollars in entitlement spending. Our already straining Social Security and Medicare system will take on far more than it can handle – costing taxpayers for many years to come.”
“The Heritage Foundation recently reported that if current adult illegal immigrants in the U.S. were granted amnesty, the net retirement costs to government, — their benefits minus taxes — will be well over $2.5 trillion.”
“I’m against creating a special law that rewards illegal behavior by providing a path to citizenship. And I’m against this so-called compromise.”
“I was clear at the outset of our immigration debate last year that I would oppose a bill that is either weak or allows amnesty. While there are certain limited exceptions which merit special attention, none of them make a case for blanket amnesty,” Thomas said.
Senator Thomas’ Priorities:
• Opposes amnesty in any form;
• Supports strengthening border security and protection;
• Supports mandatory electronic employment verification; and,
• Supports tough employer accountability provisions which increase penalties for those who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
How elitist of you to think we will grab our shotguns. Your arrogance is insulting. We are just passionate about our Republic being destroyed. I have seen first hand the decay caused by overflowing numbers of illegal immigrants. It is highly corrosive. Latinos overwhelmingly vote democratic. It is delusional to think they will vote Republican.
Just another law to be broken.
DO NOT VOTE FOR ANYONE WHO SIGNED ON TO THIS SELLOUT.
Yeah, the same Karl Rove who assured us last November of a Republican victory now thinks these immigrants will vote Republican when given citizenship. NOT! I am afraid that Rove is not the political genius everyone thinks he is.
Fitting that that post was #666.
I hear ya! This country is at a major crossroads.
Lord have mercy!! Take a good look at your kid and grandkids, they will be paying the price for this in spades. How long have we been trying to fight the “war on poverty”? We have just handed our kids probably the biggest welfare class in our history!! And we imported them!!! Our kids and grandkids will be working their asses off to support all of these people. The statistics show, they do not take advantage of the education system, they have the highest drop out rates and teenage pregnancy rates of any demographic group. OMG, we cannot absorb all of this madness. Un effin believable.
I really want to call Isakson’s office but I have to calm down, I’m afraid I’ll end up in jail if I tell him what’s on my mind.
Geeeze, now that sounds exactly how the IRS works. Quite successfully, I might add.
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