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 ...
Another sell out...depressing.
Unacceptable, the GOP will pay for this treachery in November.
Bend Over, Here It Comes Again.
Ditto. Now I'll leave the thread and let people argue among themselves. LOL
From a thread that got pulled a minute ago: "So far I've only heard that illegal immigrants here less than 2 years have to leave."
That humming sound you hear are the bogus document printers warming up.
this is all just a waste of time and taxpayers' dollars...
we don't need any new bills,
what we need is for GWB & the DOJ to start enforcing the laws already on the books.
What I heard is there is no guarantee they can come back. And if we do real border enforcement, hopefully they won't come back illegally.
This is going to backfire on the Washington lawmakers.
People are fed up. Not just in the border towns but in the midwest, CA and up in ME.
Idiots!!
Sovereignity lost. Ilegals have greater political power than those citizens supposedly enfranchised with the right to vote.
This phrase always makes my nerves a little queezy.
A - M - N - E - S - T - Y ..... Which, when translated means,,,, I'm changing to the CONSTITUTION PARTY.
THIS STATEMENT ALONE SAYS ONE THING TO ME: AMERICA IS SCREWED! AMERICANS GET SCREWED! ILLEGALS WIN! ILLEGALS GET TO STAY! ILLEGALS ARE NOW LEGAL! ILLEGALS CONTINUE TO GET FREE MONEY, FREE HEALTH CARE, AS LEGALS! AMERICA IS DOOMED! TERRORISTS WHO ILLEGALLY GOT INTO THE COUNTRY CAN NOW BE HERE LEGALLY TO BE TERRORISTS! IN OTHER WORDS, AMERICA GETS YET ANOTHER BIG SHAFT FROM THE U.S. CONGRESS OF COMMUNISTS.
So, the longer you've broken the law, the more we're going to reward you?
Please explain to me how that isn't insane?
Also, explain how they are going to verify how long an illegal has been in this country?
Maybe some more belly-achin' would fix it... yes... that might work.
An amnesty by another name. BOHICA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.