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 ...
you are delusional if you think they're going to leave, or if they're going to be honest about how long they've been here.
This bill is bullshit, pure and simple.
This country is going down the tubes fast. They'll put law abiding citizens in jail for years for moving dirt on their property ('wetlands' idiocy) but they'll look the other way when someone has been breaking our most basic laws for years.
No jobs, no free healthcare, no free education = no reason to stay.
TERM LIMITS for sure! There's no reason some of those doddering old fools need to spend decades in the Senate. Time for some new blood.
I understand your concerns regarding their party platform, even though I am a Christian. A party is part of the political system and should seek to include as many like-minded individuals as possible. Where our faiths divide us, our values and patriotism should serve as a bridge to unite us, for the good of our country. I will send an e-mail to the Constitution Party and regarding this divisive point in their platform.
You got the GOP House right. I will not vote for my CAFTA-loving Republican CongressCritter in whatever or whenever his next race is, however.
So in other words you admit that there's no serious difference between Democrat and Republican politicians. They just have slightly different methods of achieving the same goal.
Does anyone know how it will be determined who has been in US for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years....???
Will it be 'take my word, i've been here 10 years. no need to return to country of origin, just make me a citizen..'??
I had a friend from Canada who was trying to get a green card. INS is able to determine whether documents are fake. The burden will be on the applicant to prove residency. If they can't they will have to go back.
Don'tMessWithTexas has gotten many suggestions on how to deport the illegals. He/she apparently won't consider those and keeps asking the question. Don't waste your time answering!
So tell me, where I'm wrong?
Your post says it all.
When I heard the news an hour ago I was so angry I had to leave my house and take a long walk.
Where do we turn now? What idiots these politicians are!
Traitors all! Both Republicans and Democrats!
Well I am totally screwed. Senators = Feinstein, Boxer
Congressman = Bill Thomas who finally (thank goodness) announced his retirement
I can't even threaten anyone......just dam
Locate them? They're out in our streets with no permits marching, demanding "their rights". They're hanging on street corners in every city in the country. They're lined up at welfare offices and the jails are full of them. They're not in "the shadows".
Honestly, I don't remember that amnesty. I was in the military stationed overseas working 18 hours a day on an easy day and didn't have much access to the news.
I know Reagan didn't have control of both houses of Congress; not that that's an excuse. I consider amnesty a blot on his otherwise fine record as Commander-in-Chief.
I voted for President "Better than Kerry" not knowing that he not only wanted to keep flooding America, but that he wanted to fold us into a North American Union. I did not know then that he was a complete sellout and what his aims were. I thought it was just stupid "compassionate" Conservativism, however, I better understand what I'm dealing with now, on many, many fronts.
these maggots are through. They don't listen to the people who elected them to office and they need to be dumped like the garbage they dump on us.
I was looking on their website for a way to contact them myself. Perhaps if they realize they are turning away many of us, they could change their stance.
You really don't get it do you??
It's okay with you if these illegals stay, because they have jobs?
Aren't you aware that you are paying for their healthcare, education, etc?
Would it be okay with you if terrorists worked these same jobs, because they are supporting the economy????
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