Senate Blocks Ag Worker Citizenship Plan

LA Times ^ | 4/19/05 | Mary Curtius

[BurbankKarl]

WASHINGTON — The Senate today blocked a measure that would have created a path to citizenship for an estimated 500,000 farmworkers and their families, dealing a setback to those who advocate legalization as the key to immigration reform.

The measure's supporters failed to secure the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster by opponents, ending the effort by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) to attach the plan to an $80-billion emergency funding bill that mainly would pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Under the plan, any illegal farmworker who could demonstrate that he or she had worked in agriculture for at least 100 days in the 18-month period before Dec. 31, 2004 and meet certain other criteria would be eligible for temporary residency.

Once the worker obtained temporary residency, he or she would have to work another 360 days over at least the next three years and no more than six years to be eligible for permanent residency. The spouse and children of farmworkers who obtained permanent residency would also be eligible for permanent residency.

Opponents attacked the measure as a thinly disguised amnesty program that would only increase the flow of illegal immigration into this country, and said it was inappropriate to try to attach such a sweeping change to an emergency spending bill needed to supply troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[calawah98]

Yes, I just an email stating that.

Did you see where it will raise the number of foreign workers by three times the current number of 66,000.

Lawn care workers, timber workers, construction workers, maid, housekeepers an stable workers.
All these have a high unemployment, from 11% on down.
Both of my senators voted for it.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

It's great news that Larry Craig's Shamnesty was set aside but the OBL, which extends into the highest ranks of the GOP, will not be denied.

Nope I'm afraid not. Almost everyone that's talking immigration "reform" isn't referring to closing the borders and enforcing the laws, it's about how we're going to go about legalizing those here and letting them stay. Apparently many in the beltway refuse to accept that their idea of reform is 180 degrees different than what those who voted for them desire.

[janetgreen]

The American Immigration Lawyers Association

These must be the guys who chase the coyote vans to troll for new clients.

[WRhine]

I did notice several saying that, because of the vote(53 for), it is certain that further activity will take place. But everyone already knew this.

I'm rather surprised the vote was this close. With the leftward tilt in the Senate (even with the Pubs in majority...imagine that) I thought the vote for this treason would be higher. Maybe quite a few Senators are feeling the political heat from their constituents.

Anyway we do what side your bread is buttered. Given the exposé of ahem a certain Freeper and his connection to the administration, among other such similar stories, I'm kinda wondering where you fit in. Or are you just your everyday seditious leftist trolling on a conservative forum?

[WRhine]

Nope I'm afraid not. Almost everyone that's talking immigration "reform" isn't referring to closing the borders and enforcing the laws, it's about how we're going to go about legalizing those here and letting them stay.

Yes, focus on the word "reform". The Beltway crowd have been attaching that word to every piece of legislation they know is unpopular with the American Public (You're not against "Reform" are you?). They did it to great effect with the Campaign Finance “Reform” bill otherwise known as the Incumbency Protection Act.

The jig is to just say "reform" and spin the hell out of it as something good like Larry Craig in his disingenuous attempts to portray his amnesty for a million illegal aliens as reform with no change in the status quo of letting illegals run wild in America. I must say though, I hope Larry Craig gets more media exposure. That guy is such an obvious Jerk the more media attention he gets the more he helps our cause.

[WRhine]

*know* also works in this sentence: Anyway we do *know* what side your bread is buttered.....jezz, i'm outta here.

[A. Pole]

The measure's supporters failed to secure the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster by opponents, ending the effort by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) to attach the plan to an $80-billion emergency funding bill that mainly would pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Attachment bump!

[azhenfud]

Polls are no better than the method in which the questions are asked.

Where's your link, Dane?

[azhenfud]

I found it now. That's what I get for joining in late - right?

[azhenfud]

"...some 25 percent of voters support such a plan, 25 percent oppose it, and 50 percent are undecided. Some 80 percent of voters say it's unrealistic to deport some 10 million illegals."

You Rathered the way you represented the poll's results, Dane.

[Ben Ficklin]

The reduction in the numbers of Senate Repubs supporting AgJobs was to be expected.

Last fall, there was supposedly 67 senate supporters. The Nov elections reduced that to 65. The reduction from 65 to the 53 that voted for yesterday could be attributed to the following:

Some are hiding from the heat, such as Hatch.
Some think that reform should be a stand alone bill, not attached to another bill.
Some think that the reform bill should deal with both H2A and H2B; AgJobs deals only with H2A.
Some support legislation patterned around the Bush Plan.

You must understand that all of the senators, including Craig, that voted for AgJobs would much prefer the Bush Plan, which is republican friendly, but they know that the republicans are split and for any bill to pass, it must must have the support of the democrats.

Many here think that this vote is a victory and Congress will now turn to deportation. They are wrong.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

I must say though, I hope Larry Craig gets more media exposure. That guy is such an obvious Jerk the more media attention he gets the more he helps our cause.

That was exactly what crossed my mind when I heard Teddy the Swimmer talking about how immigration policy is broken and is a disaster. Not that I expect anyone in the liberal media to point out that he's the one broke it but still the huffing and puffing should mobilize the conservatives, especially in the House to oppose his amnesty schemes.

[seemoAR]

Roaches and other vermin do not have to be deported from an infested house. They will leave when the free food sources are removed. I wonder if Fox would put up a fence on his side of the border if the illegals started going home.

[ninenot]

Senator Kyl of Az. made the strategy clear: he will work to block "amnesty" legislation until the President works to secure the borders.

Based on what Kyl said on Hannity last night, the President doesn't get it and doesn't WANT to get it.

Tough cookies for the President.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

OK. I didn't catch that. Thanks for clearing it up.

[varon]

It also must suck to be against 80% of the American electorate who don't condone mass deportations. (my emphasis)

Of course 80% of Americans would be against mass deportations a la cattle cars, the old Soviet Union style. However, deporting illegals as they are discovered in day to day law enforcement would be a good start.

[antisocial]

I like this one !
Free Republic Opinion Poll: Which of the following is the best way to solve the illegal immigration problem?

Composite Opinion
Seal and militarize the borders 49.4% 2,897
Beef up and enforce existing law 35.2% 2,068
Some form of guest worker program 10.5% 616
Other 3.0% 176
Undecided/Pass 1.9% 113
100.0% 5,870

Member Opinion
Seal and militarize the borders 45.9% 1,807
Beef up and enforce existing law 37.7% 1,486
Some form of guest worker program 10.8% 424
Other 3.4% 132
Undecided/Pass 2.2% 88
100.0% 3,937

Non-Member Opinion
Seal and militarize the borders 56.4% 1,090
Beef up and enforce existing law 30.1% 582
Some form of guest worker program 9.9% 192
Other 2.3% 44
Undecided/Pass 1.3% 25
100.0% 1,933


[ More Opinion Polls · Return to Forum ]

[crab-boy]

"This is a victory for Americans! Now, we need to round up the illegals and deport them."

But first we need to put them in detention camps so that we can interrogate them for any information on other illegals or terrorists(since its possible they illegally crossed our border with a terrorist)

[jackbenimble]

But first we need to put them in detention camps so that we can interrogate them for any information on other illegals or terrorists(since its possible they illegally crossed our border with a terrorist)

And we could also put them to work building a really big wall.

[crab-boy]

" And we could also put them to work building a really big wall."

Thats not a bad idea, we couldn't possibly interrogate them all at once, so no doubt it would take time, so while they are waiting we have them do labor, to pay for their detention costs.