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 ...
"This entire argument has become absurd and irrational."
The argument to do so yes. Just as absurd as yours.
The comparrison is exact. Illegal imigration is just as illegal as drugs. Get drugs out into the open and get the sales on the books and collect taxes on them. Same thing you want to do. You can't see that because you have an agenda on one particular issue. If you look at the whole picture then it is obvious that illegal imigration can't be tolerated either. by the way illegal imigrants make up about 40% of the prison population. Just so you know.
Sorry, but I know illegals who make MORE money than their US counterparts, because they are harder workers.
And the fact is MANY Americans are hired "off the books" for the same reasons..because it is mutually beneficial to both parties...the workers don't have taxes taken out of their pay.
This doesn't sound so bad so far.(NUTS)
"Thank you for listening."
I hear you and I was glad to listen. I agree with you too. Get them all out and then we can talk about maybe having a legal guest worker program. Which I believe we already do. It is called an H1 visa.
You know this very well-especially in areas like Occupied
Gwinnett County.
You can't be serious. I'm stunned. Are you an ILLEGAL??? You sure sound like one or is your last name Kennedy? Kerry? McCain??? Who are you?????
I doubt that very much. I know illegals who are making as much as US citizens, and in are valued by their employers because they are hard workers.
Making as much as someone on the books costs a fraction of what it costs to pay someone under the table. I have no doubt that the employers love to pay just wages and let society pick up the balance.
Senate Republicans, sent them home
Well, I sure don't want you killed but I would like for you to think of a safe way to disclose this information.
"Sorry, but I know illegals who make MORE money than their US counterparts, because they are harder workers."
Something tells me that you are very very close to one of these folks. So close that you can't get away from them.
I know I would like the job you are talking about. Where do I apply?
YUP. Cargo planes for sure.
"And the fact is MANY Americans are hired "off the books" for the same reasons..because it is mutually beneficial to both parties..."
So, you are ok with everyone hiring "off the books?"
Actually, your posts have been pretty reasonable. Truthfully, I don't have a problem with someone who is willing to jump through rather stiff guest worker hoops. The few that would do so would really want to be citizens.
But a sizeable percentage of the horde of illegals I know don't care to become legal if it isn't given to them. So while I suspect SOME would sign up for guest worker, an important question no one is addressing is what percentage actually would? If it is only 20%, then the problem still exists.
Yes, those machines are humming down in Mexico, too. I think that we are going to find that every Mexican in Mexico has lived in the US for over 5 years. The Minutemen is going to need the calvary to show up because they are going to be pouring over the border now.
Fails to mention that the House is going to shoot this treasonous amnesty bill down in flames.
"Well, I sure don't want you killed but I would like for you to think of a safe way to disclose this information."
That's what I'm thinking about right now. It's part of a much bigger story that stinks to high heaven. Problem is, almost everyone is compromised.
Sure. Illegal immigration is just as illegal as speeding, jay-walking, or driving after drinking. Which a huge percent of Americans have done.
Your comparison is absurd on more than one level.
Get drugs out into the open and get the sales on the books and collect taxes on them. Same thing you want to do.
This is your argument? And you call this an "exact comparison"? You're joking right?
The destructive effects of drugs on the individual and society are the same whether they are illegal or legal.
A person who becomes a legal resident or citizen as opposed to a non-citizen or illegal has absolutely no impact on society that can parallel the effects of legalizing drugs.
Your argument is completely irrational and without merit.
One time. Just one time, I'd like to see these lying nogoodniks pander to the VOTERS. There isn't a man (or woman) of principle in the entire lot.
It's the same old six and seven: surmise a problem, and pass a new law to "fix"it. Ignore the fact that there are literally reams and reams of current law that is not being enforced. Noooooooo, no, no, no; these geniuses have to fashion something "new and improved". Rack this one up as one more that nobody will have the will to enforce, as well.
The preceived benefit of this latest waste of time, by BOTH parties, is that they think they can add to their voter base, and they will pander, and promise, and give, and give, and give until the national purse is empty.
This baloney will backfire on the Republicans most of all because they are such rank amateurs at buying votes with OUR money, compared to the RATS.
This is the beginning of the end for our dear country. When our most precious bitrhright -- our citizenship -- is cheapened to this degree, when the rule of law means absolutely nothing, when government schools succeed in dumbing-down entire generations of students to the point that high school grads can't tell you who the president is, we are in deep kim-chee, my FRiends.
Batten down the hatches, and pass the ammo. I'm hunkering down in the bunker, and pity the soul that treads on me or mine. No more political activism, no volunteer work, no letters to the editor, no phone bank work, no mo' dough, either, for any of the sorry bunch.
I feel as if I've been played the patsy in every election I've ever voted in. Not one single solitary sonofabitch I ever voted for lived up to either his campaign promises or my limited expectations.
That's enough proof for me; no more having to hit me over the head with how sheepish and stupid I am. I am DONE!!!
LOL. I love these threads!
They are just as willing to pay Americans under the table as illegals.
And they do it all the time. It's nothing new or unique.
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