Durbin proposes a sit down with Kyl on immigration

The Hill ^ | May 15, 2011 | Jamie Klatell

[jazusamo]

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin on Sunday asked Minority Whip Jon Kyl to sit down and talk about comprehensive immigration reform.

The duo, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," didn't agree on much when discussing immigration -- Kyl said border security is the first priority and Durbin pressed for passage of the DREAM Act -- but Durbin made a pitch.

"Here is the offer I'll make to Jon Kyl and John McCain. I will sit down with you, I will work with you to have border security beyond what the president has done," Durbin said. "I will go even further to make sure that our border is safe, and to stop, as much as humanly possible, illegal immigration, if you will join with us in comprehensive immigration reform so that we can identify those living in this country, we can give the children under the DREAM Act an opportunity to have a good life in this country, and we can finally fix this broken system in good faith."

Kyl responded, "Dick Durbin and I sat down before to talk about things, and I'm very happy to do it on this very important issue. But I will say, we have got to secure the border in order to achieve these other results as well."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has vowed to hold a vote the DREAM Act, legislation creating a route to legal residency — and ultimately citizenship — for illegal-immigrant students.

The latest version of the DREAM Act, introduced Wednesday by Durbin, is nearly identical to last year's House-passed proposal which failed to pass the Senate. It offers a pathway to citizenship for between 1 million and 2 million illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before the age of 16, have lived in the country at least five years, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, and enter college or join the military.

Like the House-passed bill, beneficiaries would be ineligible for Pell grants and must be able to read, write and speak English. Those stipulations were added last year to attract support from Republicans, most of whom characterize the DREAM Act as an amnesty bill that rewards those who broke the law when they entered the country.

[Cicero]

Agreed.

With Bush and McCain and and all the RINOs and Dems in favor, and with Laura Bush pushing it, and all the MSM, the Dream Act looked inevitable. But the popular opposition was so strong, that they failed to ram it through.

Of course, as we have seen, popular opposition doesn’t bother Obama one bit. And Dick Durbin likely isn’t bothered either. I hope Kyl realizes from his last experience with this issue that he had better stay out of it, or he will cook his goose. Because this is something we cannot afford to play around with.

[Cboldt]

-- Kyl is already amnesty friendly. --

Yes, he is, as is McCain, and a significant additional number of republicans.

[jazusamo]

We have to let Congress know we will NOT accept amnesty for illegal aliens.

Absolutely! We have a new Congresswoman (Jaime Herrera Beutler) in our District that replaced Brian Baird and she's conservative. Her views on illegals, amnesty and securing the border couldn't be much better, she's like a gift from above. Of course our two Senators here in WA are still the Commies Murray and Cantwell and they're hopeless.

[SECURE AMERICA]

NO TO THE DREAM ACT !!
Republicans beware. You reward criminal acts and you will be out of work. Period. We are done playing games

[Jeff Chandler]

[Soul of the South]

“I want someone to tell me WHY we need “immigration reform.”

We do not. There would not be an illegal problem if the current laws on the books were enforced.

The GOP should speak with one voice — enforce the existing laws. However, McCain, Graham and others continue to run off the reservation so the GOP once again has a fragmented message while the Democrats speak with one voice. As Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Unfortunately the leaders of his party today do not understand that if the party doesn’t stand for something it cannot expect to gain the support of the electorate.

[jazusamo]

Most appropriate BUMP!

[AAABEST]

Kyl should sit on Durbin’s face and fart.

[jazusamo]

LOL! Couldn’t agree more.

[kenmcg]

Durbin’s all a crock!! Seal the friggin’ borders and no amnesty for illegal aliens. If the pubbies cave their toast.

[baiamonte]

This is why we have to get rid of every RINO in the GOP before any sanity will return. Kyl can’t be trusted anymore than McCain. He needs to go.

[depressed in 06]

The only immigration Kyl should seek in Little Dickie Turbin’s immigration from the Senate.

[HiJinx]

Ping!