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.
Can we succeed from the Union once again?
I didn't say that you couldn't account 100%, I said maybe you couldn't account for it of maybe you had a family member at risk if laws were enforced. (I notice you didn't deny that one.) It was a shot in the dark just like my question about your U.S. citizenship. Of course no one can expect you to admit to any illegality if it actually had occurred. But, who knows. Bottom line is that you have no credibility on this issue and a clear conflict of interest.
Great post, Jack Black for President!
Dream on, sucka!
What are they going to do with the big donations if according to what many are saying that the politicians will have less people to vote for them by angering these voters on the illegal immigration issue?
We get it...now what are we going to do about it?
UNITE....MARCH. THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY WITH AN ELECTION ON THE BRINK.
MARCH TAKE TO THE STREETS, CARAVAN TO YOUR STATE CAPITAL.
WITH AMERICAN FLAGS.....HOW DOES SATURDAY SOUND?
jveritas, I appreciate your contribution to this site. However, the President deserves NO support on this issue. He and the Senate are stabbing the American public in the back.
We have laws on the books to cover all of this. They are being IGNORED.
True and it's run by fools if they think everyone is going to roll over for this. I just don't see it happening.
Keep in mind that after tough restrictions were placed on immigration to the United States in 1920 until about 1965, the Federal government that was far smaller in those days was nevertheless able to keep out illegal immigration rather effectively. Some may have sneaked into the country, of course, but their numbers were small. You will find very few Americans, other than the extremely elderly or small pockets of recent immigrants here and there, who speak the languages of Italy or Eastern Europe.
Assimilation and Americanization worked for the children and grandchildren of Italian, Polish, Jewish, Greek, etc., immigrants, virtually all of whom were legal. It can work for Hispanics, but only if the non-law abiding, i.e., the illegals, are compelled to leave the country and new immigration is effectively stopped.
Someone posted that Lott and McConnell have come out in favor of this act- is this true?
If so, save your breath- it’s all over if the 2 leaders of the Republicans in the Senate are on board for amnesty.
No, they sure don’t go by The Constitution. I don’t think any of them have ever read it. Someone needs to check to see if Bush was listening to his IPOD when he was taking his oath of office.
What do we do about our soldiers and marines? They’re over in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting terrorists to protect our country and our own goverment is fixin to sign the country away?
Well I like to know I made every effort before I go full speed ahead.
There’s still some around. They just conveniently slip into the shadows and zip it when things like this happen.
A “free-for-all debate” in the Senate is EXACTLY what we want. That and a filibuster.
CALL EVERY GOP SENATOR YOU CAN. AND ESPECIALLY MCCONNELL AND LOTT.
Wouldn’t Friday work better? All those angry people not at work hurting all those companies that wanted this in the first place, let them lose money while people petition their government.
They get to keep the money, after they are fired by us.
You have been told many times by many FReepers. You could be told a hundred more times and you'd ask the same question 101 times. You are either being purposely obtuse, maybe you like it, or you have a head of granite. Blackbird.
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