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 ...
Who care about the vote? WE ARE BEING ROBBED AND JUST SITTING HERE>
THERE ARE NO REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW....
ARE YOU AN AMERICAN? IF yes WE MUST UNITE AND STAND WITH ONE VOICE>>>>
At this point no. If he continues to let President Fox set out our immigration policy then yes.
What compromise? From everything I've read, the Repubs are the New Demoncrats on this issue. I get scared when they're in agreement with Kennedy, Schumer, and other prominent DemonRats.
And it could have a snowball effect as well. As the number of border jumpers is reduced, it will be easier to detain them instead of playing catch-and-release. That in turn will make for even more of a deterrent, which in turn will reduce the number even further. Then we can concentrate more on internal enforcement (deportations, etc.), which would provide even more of a deterrent.
Just think of what effect it would have on someone living in Mexico if his friends and kin constantly keep returning home after being rebuffed in the attempt to get in the U.S., complete with tales of how arduous the trip was, and ultimately all for nothing. The psychological effect would be considerable.
That's what we said in 1986 and it just got worse.
It's not clear to you, because I'm not insisting that it can, will, or should be.
I've seen people be persuaded away from certain beliefs, but like you say, very few true believers reconsider their prejudices.
That was 2005. There are 3 to 10 thousand more coming in per day taking jobs THAT AMERICANS WILL DO, as you sit there twisting facts just to appease some lop sided political agenda which adds more visas,etc. etc. etc.
What it does is prove that Americans will do those jobs and are doing most of them. You and your pals would have us believe the economy will shut down if we don't keep the gate open.
>>>If Mexico wants that economic inflow, it will cooperate in implementing the system. <<<<
You have never been to Mexico I take it.
(They know there will be no enforcement ... who are we kidding?)
And so would the monetary effect as many illegals pay "coyotes" to lead them across. Get sent back after you've already spent your life savings to give to a coyote and you're not going to try it again.
And that will be more than they deserve for their betrayal.
The way the GOP has squandered its political capital on this issue is unforgivable.
Considering what we have now equates with putting a band aid on a shotgun wound, build the fence.
"People here for less than 2 years have to leave. That's a good first step."
Nah...I heard it was anyone who was not here before November 1998.
How you gathered that from a wall is goofy.
It was a shotgun wound 20 years ago.
Then you're not doing a good job of expressing yourself as everyone else in this thread is reading your views on the wall the same way as I am.
To be clear, would a wall that did not stop 100% of illegal immigration be of any value?
Unless you're saying that the terrorist who launched the RPG attack got over the wall himself, then the attack has nothing to do with the present discussion, which is the effectiveness of physical barriers in preventing unauthorized entry.
Pennsylvania got what they deserve, and obviously, most Ohioans wanted Dewine at the time. Maybe they will choose a democrat this time and teach the GOP a lesson.
Then a Democrat will have 6yrs to lure more people over to the promise of socialist pandering.
You seem to think the "dirty work" is sneaking a good conservative into office instead of RINO's and Democrats. It's not. A real conservative winning an election is a result of the real dirty work of keeping the majority of the public supportive of conservative principles.
When the TABC started raiding Texas bars for 'potential' DWIs, Texans went "up in arms" and the TABC/Legislature backed down.
When 'the people' stop fighting those little dirty work fights here and there, then the leaders will follow.
I appreciate your motivation, but I think you're painting a termite infested house!
If Dewine got in, and the populace has no pull to merely bend him to their overwhelming desire to solve the border problem in the fashion you desire, then you're finding yourself in a minority that is not convincing other people.
You believe that if you jolt the public with a Rat for 6 years, then the GOP will be eager to get you and other real conservatives on board next time. I think the spineless GOP will be even more spineless after losing people of your determination, and thus will tend to pander and wander even further from conservative principles. You and I can politely disagree on this since only time will tell.
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