Posted on 05/18/2007 1:28:42 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Senators and the White House clinched a deal Thursday on bringing 12 million illegal immigrants out of the shadows and securing US borders, which could enhance President George W. Bush's legacy.
The pact would provide a path to permanent residency and citizenship for illegal workers, establish a merit-based points system for future immigrants and also establish a temporary worker program.
The bill, which emerged from exhaustive round-the-clock talks, and will be debated in the Senate next week, will provide 18,000 more border patrol agents, and scores of radar and camera towers on the US border with Mexico.
It is aimed at defusing a fiercely polarizing issue in American life and fast-tracking reform before American politics is consumed by partisan rancor in the run up to congressional and presidential elections in 2008.
"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," Bush said after lawmakers announced the sweeping agreement.
Earlier, Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, flanked by key Republicans including presidential candidate John McCain, said the deal was true to America's "humanity and our tradition of a nation of immigrants."
"Politics is the art of the possible and the agreement we just reached is the best possible chance we will have in years to secure our borders, bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America."
The Senate's Democratic Majority leader Harry Reid confirmed debate would start on Monday, but expressed reservations about the pact, hammered out by top senators and key members of Bush's cabinet.
"I have serious concerns about some aspects of this proposal, including the structure of the temporary worker program and undue limitations on family immigration," Reid said.
"We need to improve the bill as it moves through the legislative process."
Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, which must also pass the bill, echoed Reid's sentiments.
"While the bipartisan Senate agreement starts the process, I have serious concerns about some elements of this proposal -- the bill must be improved in the Senate," she said.
Republican and Democratic aides said the deal was intended to move the US immigration system to a merit-based system, rather than prioritizing claims for extended families of immigrants.
"It is intended to reflect the labor needs of the United States in the 21st century, rather than the 19th century," a senior Republican staffer said on condition of anonymity.
If it becomes law, the bill will set up a seven-part immigration system.
Immediate changes will see the hiring of 18,000 new border patrol agents, the construction of 200 miles of barriers and 370 miles of fencing, and the construction of 70 ground-based radar and camera towers on the Mexican border.
The US Homeland Security Secretary will be required that such enforcement measures were in place, before the new temporary worker program and arrangements for those living in the United States illegally can begin.
Those illegally in the United States before January 1, 2007 will be able to pay a 5,000 dollar fine and get a non-immigrant 'Z' visa which will allow them eventually to become eligible for a green card or permanent residency.
Criteria for green card allocation will also change, moving more towards merit-based immigrants on a points system from family-based immigration.
Points will be awarded for proficiency in the English language, graduate and post graduate education, excellence in science, technology and mathematics disciplines and for expertise in an area of high labor demand.
The deal will also raise the number of H-1B visas, used by American universities and companies to find skilled workers like scientists, medical experts and computer programmers, from 65,000 a year to 115,000 a year.
In years of especially high demand, that figure will rise to 180,000 a year.
I have heard/read that D.C. reps mailboxes are full. They are really getting an earful. I know mine did from me this afternoon. McCain is one of mine. I am sure it is an exercise in futility. It is staggering to me that these people do not see or maybe simply do not care, how pissed off the average person is over this farcicle bill and what it is going to mean to their futures. I believe they really do think it is all going to blow over once it is done. We are being sold out and once it is a done deal my association with the Republican Party and its candidates is finished. And I know I am not the only one voicing this today.
What are we fighting for again?
I am having a lot of trouble justifying our soldiers being put at risk abroad while our politicians work to dissolve our nation regardless of the effort of our troops.
This amnesty will alter our political and cultural landscape by tainting it with an illegal and criminal element that never respected our laws to begin with.
Then again, our own house and senate doesn't respect our laws and the President has consistently refused to protect our very borders.
Really, I'm having a lot of trouble reconciling our foreign policy when our domestic policy seems to cancel it out.
Why did our soldiers have to die if we're just going to cease being a nation of laws anyways?
That may just be a ruse to get the abominable bill passed.
May 18, 2007
Subject: Immigration
Dear Congresscritter,
This is absolutely shameless behavior. Just what part of illegal don’t you folks in Washington understand?
Seal the borders. Enforce the law.
Sincerely,
OLA
This should be separate issue and come first.
I imagine this is the death knell for the Republican Party...
I called mine on Thursday, too. I shall call again today! If they don’t hear from ANGRY voters they will definitely move ahead with this. Maybe our calls and e-mails will at least give them something to think about.
“I imagine this is the death knell of the Reublican Party”.
Not to mention the death knell of the United States of America,
Workers needed, Americans need not apply, 1-800-SENATE.
“Indeed, they will reject and refuse the Sovereign. Engaged in the marketplace, attending to the business of buying and selling, they bring on themselves swift and imminent annihilation and obliteration.”
Of these men and their schemes:
“And by greed and exploitation, they shall disingenuously mold words to make merchandise of you. Their judgment will not be delayed for a long time. Their destruction and annihilation will not linger.” (II Peter 2:3)
But we have no one to blame but ourselves. We left the door wide open and:
“The thief comes inside. The Bandits raid outside. Their exploits surround and encircle them.”(Hosea 7:1-2)
I am not a moonbat but Bush has persecuted border guards, he refuses to secure the border, he is working toward a North American Union, He is moving toward a UN Sea treaty and many other initiatives to remove US soveringty. He is as determined to eliminate our borders as he seems determined to win the war. Which of his goals are having the most success?
Ahhh, this got slipped in also. I was wondering how this would happen. Disgust is too mild a word for my feelings.
I believe this is all part of the script. Roll out Pelosi and Reid to say the bill is not enough and is too strict so that the RINOs can claim “victory” (i.e “this is the best deal we could get”). It’s all been orchestrated long ago.
I guess we need the modern day equivalent of slaves and indentured servants to benefit those businesses who need cheap labor.
Prediction:
That cheap labor won't last long, watch for a socialist revival with many, many Mexican "American" members, strikes, and demonstrations and riots. The Southwest will become just like the rest of Mexico is now. Poor, destabilized, and drug ridden. Many established Americans will fight it, and violence, gangs and possees will become the order of the day.Law enforcement will be stretched and our international enemies will try to infiltrate and arm them.
My support for the war in Iraq has just waned overnight with the announcement of this sell out amnesty package.
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