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.
They're sourced at the bottom. Everyone who is informed about this issue has known about these numbers for a very long time. Why are you so ill-informed, that would be my question?
So you, jveritas, a citizen of another nation, are here on Free Republic trying to tell conservatives how we're so wrong about wanting our immigration laws enforced. You're not even an American citizen yet you're chastizing real Americans for trying to protect our borders, language, and culture and for demanding their our laws and our Constitution be upheld by those charged to do so.
How about you zip it. You have no credibility on this issue as your conflict of interest is obvious. Maybe the reason this call for strong enforcement and deportations bothers you so much is that you can't account for your own legal status 100% of the time you've been here. Or maybe that's the case for one of your family members.
And why they are not doing it if it is that simple?
Will there be federal travel expenses paid for the immigrants to “go home” so they can re-apply?
I'm with you. Make being an illegal alien or an employer of illegals reeeeeeeal expensive!
That just sucks
Is your Caps Lock key broken? Writing in capital letters doesn’t make your message any more powerful you know.
This is simple. Your vote does not matter, period. There is a new voting block on it’s way. Liberal-to-Center. Those who believe in The Word do have faith, and we will need to know what side we are on.
This government in America has moved away from God. And you will see further moves, yet at an ever growing pace.
Morals? Watch as the chasm is created and further delineated.
Yeah, me too. Surreal, isn't it? I guess when you get to Washington you check your brain at the door.
the town I grew up in is unrecognizable today, a peaceful town of 20,000 is now a third world slum....coming soon to a city near you!
Big business + cheap labor = big donations. North American Union.
It is asinine to have Americans dying in Iraq when we have just given away America and all it stands for to an illegal alien horde and a profiteering political elite.
Bring the troops home, and let them at least enjoy the last few days of a dying nation. Their final insult will be a few years down the road when an illegal alien culture schooled in the corruption and socialism of Latin America replaces Memorial and Veterans Days with hispanic festivals like Cinco de Mayo and Bolivar Day. Can’t wait to see future President Villagarossa welcoming President Chavez.
This is worth repeating, because you are ABSOLUTELY right. Best post of the thread, and of the day.
We, who are Republicans and conservatives, have been played for fools.
If the amnesty goes through, considering the transformation of our country that is guaranteed to occur, why waste another soldier's life in Iraq in the name of defending a way of life that is fast disappearing - and disappearing at the whim of [not only] Democrats and liberals, but REPUBLICANS as well (shouting intentional)?
Mr. Reagan's amnesty of 3 million or so was directly responsible for the invasion of 20-25 million that we have today.
If _this_ NEW amnesty goes through, how many _more_ will invade in the next 25 years?
I'm glad that I'll probably be gone by then.
It has been said that a country that won't defend its borders won't remain a country for long. How much longer do we have?
Sadly,
- John
I must say that I have notice a sharp decline in the number of Bushbots on this forum since November 7, 2006.
At least he tried. You just want to give in. And I have read your solution, so here’s a question for you: What makes you think that your law would be enforced more faithfully than the 1986 law was?
Interesting thought.
Those kind of things have to have the right timing.
Judging by the passion being demonstrated here, perhaps the time is right.
“Problem is, where do we go? Do we go to an already existing third party or create a new one? I think it might be easier to migrate to a third party, but which one?”
The Constitution Party looks pretty nice. Decent platform.
You don't have to. You simply publicize the 20 raids per week to be made at the outset. Raid large, medium, and small businesses. Make examples of them with big fines and jailtime as called for in the existing U.S. Code. Execute the existing law and the existing penalties for employing illegals.
Once business owners see that this is serious business, they'll stop employing them.
And without work, the illegals will go home.
By the way, if a business cannot survive without the use of illegal labor, that business shouldn't be in business.
Yeah. They went a bridge too far with their support of Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity, and it was their downfall.
“If your business can only survive with illegal labor, you shouldn’t be in business.”
Exactly.
It was done on a FAR wider scale before Bush took office. And, back then, even here in Arizona we didn't see nearly the level of problems caused by illegal alien invaders as we see today. The employer enforcement went away, the President started talking about amnesty, and the flood gates were opened. I didn't have a crime committed against me related to illegal aliens until Bush took office. I never saw illegal aliens running down my street or any other street in my area until after Bush took office and stopped enforcing immigration laws. The corners of towns and cities in my state were not infested with illegal aliens looking for lawbreaking employers until after Bush took office and they knew they had a green light for their activities. I'd never even heard of a taxpayer-funded "day labor" center for illegal aliens until after Bush took office and stopped enforcing the law.
Get a clue, foreigner.
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