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 ...
.....just when we were starting to have fun.
Laws are to be enforced, otherwise a country has no foundation. Why do you believe that illegals should be favored over legal Hispanics who have done things the right way -- ones who want to be American citizens in every respect? Why should illegals jump to the head of the line? Because one of your friends or family is illegal? That's not a good enough reason.
I don't want to let that go by though. You sound like a real contributer to society yourself.
As if you would know.
I also graduated first in my College class with a perfect 4.0 GPA in Applied Sciences and worked my way to the top and adapted to several different job markets I've worked in.
I have virtually doubled my salary at my present job by contributing far more to the company than workers who have twice the experience I have.
BTW I am a lead QA Inspector for a company that has contracts with the Government Department of Defense, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and numerous other businesses that require top of the line products..that people's lives depend on.
Chances are when you get on a airplane...some very expensive and critical motion and control device/system made by our company is keeping it in the air.
I take my job very seriously. And I'm very good at it.
And you are so humble too.
Right. And I guess if I wanted to stoop to your level I could just respond that you are just like "Hitler" and the "folks" who make mass murder "profitable".
Do you realize how desperate and scatter-brained your accusations are getting?
What are you talking about?
I LOVE this country. AND understand why people are doing desperate things to get here.
Yeah, you love this country, I bet, for what you personally can get out of it. That's why you support policies that universally work towards the destruction of America as a free nation. That's why you "laugh your a** off" when your buddy makes a mockery of justice, rather than being overcome with shame, as any decent person would have been.
If you "love this country", Democrats "support the troops". You love this country like a buzzard loves carrion.
That's why we need a minefield. Ike put in a mine field on the border between North and South Korea. Reagan expanded it and was able to cut the number of troops needed to keep the border secure. Ike’s minefield works much better than Israel’s fence.
Why not?
Of course I love this country for what it stands for, for the noble ideals and virtues it represents..as a beacon of liberty, freedom and opportunity in the world.
Things you seem to know nothing about, I am sad to say.
That's why you support policies that universally work towards the destruction of America as a free nation.
What are you "universally" talking about?
I'm sure that anybody who disagrees with you is a communist intent on the destruction of America. Too funny.
That's why you "laugh your a** off" when your buddy makes a mockery of justice, rather than being overcome with shame, as any decent person would have been.
Right. Your angry posts with wild accusations are the model of "decency"..aren't they.
Go back and read my post again.
NOBODY was mocking justice. We were laughing at the complete ineptness and stupidity of the justice system in THIS CASE.
It was and IS funny.
What a sick suggestion. I'll pray for you.
Constitutionparty.com
You can change your party with your State Board of Elections.
You outrageous hypocrite. Your champion causes include a vitriolic passion for a military campaign against American liberty. And in this issue as well, you oppose the most fundamental American liberty - our freedom to rule ourselves. That you think the brokenness of our justice system is funny rather than tragic and outrageous is perfectly in line with your contempt for the ideals on which this nation was founded and through which it became the leading light of civilization.
Real is the hospital that closed down due to the overwhelming illegal immigrants who paid not a dime.
How many people would consider an illegal's child getting treatment for an illness at a hospital, just as evil a crime as an American getting behind the wheel drunk and endangering lives of many?
Your attempts to present illegal immigrants in the worst light possible has caused you to resort to irrational comparisons.
You create an irrational example, then suggest I am putting illegals in the worst possible light. I can direct you to URLs that describe logic if need be.
If you are an American Citizen, I hereby call you traitor. I place the deaths of people who would have been treated at the local hospital at YOUR feet. Your support of those who swamp the boat killed them as directly as if you had shot them point blank.
Illegal Immigrants are criminal invaders. Their supporters directly contribute to the downfall of the USA.
Enjoy your new status, killer.
His status is not new. He has long since been complicit as a cheerleader for policies that have resulted in death and destruction to actual Americans and is still today unashamed of his glee at the needless suffering of our citizens. There is nothing conservative nor libertarian nor anything else respectful of the tradition of freedom of America, and why he has been tolerated here for so long when he opposes vehemently the fundamental mission of this site is a complete mystery.
We don't need that type of fringe-wacko insanity.
only problem I see with switching before a primary is you won't be able to vote in that, I don't think.
That wasn't a very nice thing to say, now was it.
Let's try to restore some civility to this debate, Ok?
Your champion causes include a vitriolic passion for a military campaign against American liberty.
I'm seriously trying not to laugh dude.
And in this issue as well, you oppose the most fundamental American liberty - our freedom to rule ourselves.
Right. I am against Americans ruling themselves!
You are so clever. How did you figure that out?
That you think the brokenness of our justice system is funny rather than tragic and outrageous is perfectly in line with your contempt for the ideals on which this nation was founded and through which it became the leading light of civilization.
All this because I laughed at a stupid Judge who suspended my friends driver's license for drunk driving..even though he had no license to begin with.
You need to lighten up.
LOL Ike and Reagan are fringe to you pro-criminal anti-sovereignty guys. You claim a fence will not keep the criminals out and I pointed out what will work. We have 50 years of seeing it work.
Never had to compromise with your wife? Lucky man.... Of course, at least you get to choose your wife, so the odds on her agreeing with you when it comes to disciplining the kids are pretty good. You and I didn't exactly choose Harry Reid as a legislative dance partner, did we?
This is the sovereignty of a country, with laws to control its borders and processes in place to allow immigrants to legally enter.
That sounds wonderful, but you omitted the part about most Democrats and some Republicans opposing your view. What good does it do for you to have the perfect plan if you can't get it enacted?
English your second language? I said, you're fringe. Reagan wouldn't have supported such an outrageous idea.
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