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.
“GEES PEOPLE....OUR SOLDIERS ARE DYING FOR OUR FREEDOOM!
WHILE WE HAND IT OVER ON A SILVER PLATER. WHAT THE HELL!!!!”
I hate to burst your bubble....but “WE” the people hardly have a voice anymore.
This Bill is being rammed down our throats like it or not.
This country is on it’s last legs. We are losing our rights bit by bit. What happened to the Right to Life? Men in robes dictated in 1973! What is happening to property rights? Courts ruled private property could be taken because municipalities saw greater taxing opportunities. Now illegals will be allowed instant Legal status. There is an never ending assault on the right to bear arms. On and on it goes.
I pray for a watershed movement or event to wake people from their slumber.
Because they're all traitors. See how that works?
BTW, you indicated you aren't even an American. I will apply for my citizenship this year Spiff.
Pound sand! This is none of your business. Blackbird.
Respectfully those who followed the law, paid small foutunes of money they bled penny by penny to earn for their legal fees and application fees, only to have some criminal get a free pass are FAR more upset. These are people who made an afirmative investment and conscious decision to make the USA their home for themselves and future generations.
They did not come here to just work and send money home. They came here to make LIVES here, invest their souls here, raise their children here to appreciate the fruits of this nation and cultivate future generations.
Those seeking amnesty are here to look.
LEGAL immigrants know this, this is the corruption most left in the old country. We have this the blessings of this nation by birth, they had to earn it. Pissed is not the word for this high voter turn out group.
Make sure you tell them “NOT ONE DIME” ... that they understand.
This doesn't include how many adult have had their SSN's compromised. Nor does this even address the impacts on people's (and children's) credit.
Not only do they get amnesty for breaking immigration law while honest people stand in lines and spend the money to go through the convoluted immigration system, but they also get amnesty for identity theft (a felony).
I'm livid!
Well, the republicans better hope the illegally amnesty’d aliens vote for them, cause I won’t anymore. I might as well vote libertarian if this is what i am going to get from the GOP.
We don’t need a race-hustling shyster.
Guess who will get to cleanup the mess they left on our identities?! You got it - we will as will our children!
To hell with the GOP! - I'll just donate to individual candidates.
They can't vote. That is good enough for me. I don't see why they also need to be censured.
This is the end of the GOP. I will never vote for Martinez. He needs to step down for the good of the party. He is toast.
oK so lets sit and do nothing? HMMMMM that way we can do what? Watch it all happen? Not me!!!
At least you can Write your Congress man!
Write your Congress/Legisl/The President
SIMPLE ONE LINE MESSAGE....PLEASE AT LEAST DO THIS..
1. GET AN INDEX CARD
2. IN BIG BLACK LETTERS WRITE
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK. STOP AMNESTY NOW!!!
3. PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR SOLDIERS WHO ARE DYING FOR A
THE VERY FREEDOOM WE ARE GIVING AWAY.
Young American men and women in Iraq are dying horrible deaths, suffering grotesque maiming wounds, or being held captive by the hideous assasins while they fight for their country, and Congress won’t give them a dime.
Illegal aliens steal into a country they hate and march against are rewarded with amnesty, health care, benefits that cost trillions and will cost trillions more, and Congress rewards them.
You think reprsentative democracy is not working in Iraq?
It’s not working here in America, either.
The fact that you can't see it shows that you are overreacting. There are very few situations where cold reason doesn't trump heated emotion.
I agree oldbill
I did support the President....
NOT ONE MORE SOLDIER...SEND THEM BACK TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY.
WE NEED IT.
Are there enough of us willing to stand and fight. How about a march of our own to the border. Call in sick, take vacation time or my other idea I’ve been posting, a worker’s strike. We work, and we are the backbone of this country, not the illegals. How would our politicians like it if we quit paying taxes. There are so many things we can do but will we? Who can lead us? This is so awful and Bush makes me ill hearing him talk this afternoon about how great this is.
1. Greatly increase the border security to stop the flood of illegal immigrant.
Why hasn't that been done already? Whom do we hold accountable for it not being done?
2. Grant temporary working status for the illegal immigrants that need to be renewed every 2 years with a fine. The temporary workers must no have access to any welfare program and must no obtain US citizenship in any way, that will be the ulimate penalty they should pay for coming here illegaly. May be the best they can obtain is a Permanent Residence status (Green Card) after they have been law abiding temporary workers for 10 years.
Who is going to make them comply? What is the penalty if they don't get this status or don't register and pay a fine? Would you issue them driver's licenses? Would you allow them to reunite with their families? What would be their legal status in this country? Would they have to pay SS along with the employer? Would they have to paid minimum wage? How would you handle their health care?
We have not enforced the laws on the books now. What assurance can anyone give that we will do so in the future? This is all a ruse to legalize the status of those here and get more in legally. We are being overrun.
What makes the illegals attractive to employers is their ability to exploit them by paying them less than they would American citizens and the fact that they have leverage over them because they don't have legal recourse to address problems without exposing themselves to deportation. Once you make the illegals legal, they lose their competitiveness making future illegals more attactive.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CITIZENSFORTAXFAIRNESS.ORG'S IDENTITY THEFT INITIATIVE
A massive march on Washington or in several major cities would be effective. I have the skills to organize and market such a march but like most people on this forum I work hard to provide what I can for my family. I don't have the resources to effectively do anything on short notice. So I'm reduced to sputtering on an Internet forum.
Rome is burning and my children hang in the balance.
Not necesary to deport. Just deport illegal felons. Make sure every worker has a legal SS#. Put the National Guard on the border. No welfare for illegals. etc.
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