Posted on 04/06/2006 8:33:43 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Why where is Pat now days?
Under the status quo, we've gone from 3-5 million illegals in 1986 to four times as many now. If you're going to accept the status quo, then by definition, you are not going to stop or even slow the slow of illegal immigration. The status quo has no chance of working. None.
Sealing the border is a promise that will not be kept.
If that is true, then there's no scheme that has any hope anyway. Amnesty or status quo, we're doomed. So if that's your viewpoint, why bother participating in the debate at all? After all, you're assuming at the outset that no plan can work because the borders are going to remain open.
The only logical way to proceed is to fight for the toughest border protection we can get. And if you don't think they'll enforce it, then here's your solution -- peg amnesty eligibility to stopping the flow of illegals. If the number of illegals crossing the border exceeds a certain amount in a calendar year (or quarter, or whatever), no amnesty will be granted until the number goes below that amount for two consecutive quarters. Write that into the law.
At least a plan like that has a chance to succeed. The status quo already has proven it won't.
What evidence do you have that the impreachment cannot be successful now with a GOP majority?
Sorry, I support President Bush's foreign policy but Im not selling out my country to Mexico just to avoid a President from being impeached just because there's a "R" before his name. Me, I put AMERICA above politcal parties. If President Bush and those who sold us out today had put AMERICA above politics, they would not have worried as much about losing seats in 2006.
I vote them into office. Their job is to work for the American people so we vote them in again. I did my job. It's time they do theirs.
Like President Bush, I too, look for results.
http://jednet207.tripod.com/PoliticalLinks.html
N-i-c-e take, DM. McKennedy must be holding hands and dancing the Irish Jig.....oh, wait.....make that the Mexican Hat Dance.
You ask about EMPLOYER ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS...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....
Remember, the SEC wants to know if publicly-held companies, their execs and Board of Directors put investments at risk - either by utilizing risky short-term wage gains, or violating accounting laws with regard to Sarbanes-Oxley. Fraudulent filings, or not filing with the IRS could also play a huge part in this.
EMAIL your concerns to enforcement@SEC.gov
Rather, it will succeed, but only in unraveling our social fabric even further.
There is no fence, no stringent border enforcement, and no punishment for employers of illegal aliens.
How is this bill better than not granting fast-track citizenship to 20+ million illegal aliens?
The last time they created a bill they didn't think would succeed we got campaign finance reform. LOL
Speaking of McCain, he will be signing copies of his new book at BORDERS, in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, this Saturday, APRIL 8th, from Noon to 1:30 p.m...in case anyone wants to swing by and ket him know what they think of the Senate's immigrant bill.
i will add that one to my research - thanks.
Stupid question #1 - How do you propose to confirm a date of entry for admitted illegal entrants?
Are you in favor of an impeachment?!
Lettuce won't be any more expensive than it is now.
It'll just come from Mexico, picked by the same Mexicans we just kicked out of this country.
Wrong...mechanization is the future of our agribusinesses. Not more wokers.
The Mexicans are walking right in and selling themselves to the lowest bidder. After amnesty, they'll be marching and protesting for higher wages. Count on it..
sw
I didn't say Americans were too lazy to do anything. I said fruit and vegetable growers have not had much luck hiring white boys like you to do stoop labor. That has been the case for well over 40 years.
I know you don't like that reality, but it IS reality.
And American shoppers don't really care where their oranges come from.
Personally, I think if the dems try to impeach Bush for spying on terrorists, the message alone may possibly save the GOP a few seats.
That being said, I don't vote for my representives in order to save the sitting President from impeachment. I vote on issues.
That would be completely unworkable, because who determines the number of illegals that make it across? It's all guesswork.
There's no need whatsoever to sell ourselves short here. We have the people on our side. All we have to do is not go wobbly at election time because we're afraid of the Democrats. That's the worst thing we could do, really.
I said "at least" as well - hopefully much better.
"Sealing the border is a promise that will not be kept."
"If that is true, then there's no scheme that has any hope anyway."
It's ridiculously easy to resolve the immigration problem. Just put the employers of illegals in jail, and then the illegals will go home on their own!
The reason this has not been done is the President and his employer supporters are in favor of flooding the USA with cheap Mexican labor. It's very profitable for them! The Democrats are in favor because they see millions of new Democratic voters. The only losers are ordinary American citizens who get a much lower wage for their labor, and see their greatest birthright, American citizenship, held in contempt.
Tancredo for President 2008! Save America before it's too late.
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