Congress Nears Deal on Illegal Immigrants (breaking on cable networks)

AP/Yahoo News ^ | 4-6-06 | DAVID ESPO

[STARWISE]

WASHINGTON - In a last stab at compromise, Senate Republicans and Democrats reported progress Thursday toward agreement on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants now in the U.S. illegally.

"There's been tremendous progress overnight," said Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada, the Democratic leader, while Majority Leader Bill Frist also expressed optimism that a long-sought compromise might be at hand.

There was no immediate reaction from President Bush, who has made immigration legislation a key priority.

The developments occurred after Frist unveiled a new bill late Wednesday night on the subject as the Senate headed into a test vote on the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades.

In general, the legislation would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the flow of future immigrants into the United States and settle the legal fate of the estimated 11 million men, women and children already in the country.

It was the fate of the illegal immigrant population that proved hardest to legislate, and it has left the Senate on the verge of gridlock for days.

(snip)

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., as well as other key senators met before the vote to review terms of a proposed compromise.

In general, it would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.

Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.

[samcgwire]

Very good point. And direct. I agree fwiw.

[clawrence3]

I do not support Reconquista.

[Don Joe]

Are you gonna vote for Democrats?

If the choice is between "Democrats", or, "The Representative at Large from the State of Mexico", then I will vote for neither.

Piss on 'em.

I will NOT reward my executioner. Period.

[samcgwire]

LOL! Love your style and substance! Great post.

[clawrence3]

As I said, if you have any questions for me, please ask them.

[Joe Brower]

"I will be on the side of PRESERVING THE UNION."

You don't do that by siding with those who would see our nation split asunder.

You say one thing while doing another. Like I said earlier, you don't seem to be too good that this.

[southernindymom]

Am I taking this right, you think that it's OK that all of these ILLEGAL aliens are here and you equate them to a LEGAL American citizen with a speeding ticket? They are here illegally, they need to be kicked out of the country. I don't think that they have any rights, to a job, to an education, to health care, to food stamps. Zip zilch nada

[CowboyJay]

"With the use of the card, the game would be over for the idea that if you could get enough people to beat the system, you could overload the system."

No. We're talking about people with no respect for the system in the first place, and are expert at working around it. The only thing that will change is the number of illegal immigrants. It will increase.

[inquest]

Non sequitur, as usual.

[GarySpFc]

Some of you may have heard of Kris Kobach, who was head of immigration under John Ashcroft. Last night several of us met with him. In his speech he stated in tne 1986 amnesty there were 398,000 cases of blatant fraud, and 2.7 million cases were approved. Of the 2.7 million they suspected many were fradulent. He also stated there is no way the DHS has the resources to process the applications for amnesty, and there is lots of pressure to push these cases through the mill, which means most fraudlent applications will pass.

Kris also stated that between June 2003 to October 2004 they captured 1,432 individuals from terrorist countries on the Mexican border.

[Bella_Bru]

Criminals are those who also break federal laws, like immigration laws.

[clawrence3]

Wow! 24 hours after the Senate passes a bill (not even assuming the House will go along) and before it even gets signed into law, America is going to look like Mexico? Which parts - the Cancun resort center?

[clawrence3]

Not after we change said federal laws.

[SeaBiscuit]

"..the rights of 'illegal aliens'.."

The last part of the phrase negates the first part. Absurd really isn't it.. discussing the 'rights' that they don't have.

And yet as Citizens, it's 'our rights' that are being negated by a bunch of invertebrate sell out politicians.

[Bella_Bru]

And you still didn't answer the question. Good at dodging, eh?

Let's see them actually abandon their native Spanish for English. If they really wanted to (and if all immigrants really wanted to be U.S. citizens) we wouldn't need forms in their native languages.

[Joe Brower]

"As I said, if you have any questions for me, please ask them."

Click here.

[tumblindice]

"I think we can assimilate the current illegal population at least as well as we did the slaves after 1865 . . ."

I don't know what you mean.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[clawrence3]

LOL - you just said there were no excuses, so I gave you one. I'm not saying it's a valid excuse - even I know we could easily deal with illegal immigration - I'm just proving your comment wrong.

[Dat Mon]

Oh boy oh boy...a compromise that Ted Kennedy can sign on to...

Lets see...we started with what...300 pages of minutiae...what are we up to now ..400?

Of course...these compromise resolutions are nonsense...for one thing, length of stay in this country cannot be verified with any accuracy, without employer pay stubs, and a secure form of ID...how many of those do we have? How about forgery and identity theft? ID cards issued through Mexico?...of boy oh boy!

It gets back to what we've said way back...you must secure the border first...start enforcing the current laws WITH EMPLOYERS first, and implement a secure biometric ID system which all guest workers can utilize.

We are not close on any of those items.

Heres some questions...in all this discussion of this bill in the press, and on this forum...there are three items which have slipped under the radar...let me resurrect them.

1) H1b numbers...methods of calculation...enforcement provisions...labor categories...etc...remember..this bill is not just about illegals from Mexico doing lawn work and cleaning toilets.

2) EMPLOYER ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS. For example...if we legalize all these people, especially those who have broken the law the longest...those here more than 5 years...what are we going to do about their EMPLOYERS... the ones who have been paying these folks in cash under the table...are we going to try and collect back payroll taxes on these guys....FAT CHANCE.

3) With all these tens of millions now legal...who picks up the tab for their health care...their employers? Or are we going to let them continue to use the emergency room as a doctors office?