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 have just put your finger on the real problem. I don't think as Americans we dislike the Mexicans, it's just that we have allowed some of the poorest of the poor into our country and employers are more than willing to keep it that way. It's as if we'd invited all the residents of Callcutta, India, all the starving in Zimbabwe, etc. to be our neighbors. No country can survive such a large percentage of poor. Our social services are already overwhelmed now. Get ready to reside in a third world country. It's coming!
" 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..'??"
We'll either go by our feelings, or we'll let them use 'fake but accurate' documents. Either way, we'll continue to reinvent govt. Now, get back to work, slacker, for the good of all...
Great. Does your dogma know no bounds? Are you really a DU troll?
Every American is known to any cop who stops him. - Just hand over that DL and he will know damn near everything about you - except if you are here illegally.
Even non drivers must have a state ID in every state that I've lived in and that certainly includes Florida, or is Florida not red enough for you?
I borrowed that phrase from SteveMcKing. It struck me to my core when I read it.
Why should the rest of the country have to subsidise the owners of businesses in those industries? Illegals may make the the price of lettuce $.50 cheaper, but is it fair to pass on the costs of health care, education, infrastructure and loss of income tax revenue to everyone else?
Illegals are not a bargain when you factor in the big picture. Every visit to the emergency room is $1000 a pop. How about the cost of educating their children?
You didn't address the rest of my post..
"If illegals hear someone in the US say that we were going to arrest all illegals they would laugh it off."
And you want criminals like that in your country??? Yeah ok, just let 'em go cause it;s 'too hard' to do anything about it but bend over backwards.
Are you going to have to change your screen name?
yw; mine has been, as well.
Now you may not believe that there's no real difference
Umm no I don't believe that I assume you have read my last reply but this post is growing so fast that I can't keep up!
Nope, I consider it to be a clear indicator of how far this administration has fallen.
The irony is palpable.
The Reagan-era amnesty was advertised as being for one million illegal aliens. Three million took advantage of it.
This amnesty is billed as being for the benefit of eleven million illegal aliens. Will thirty-three million take advantage of it?
How many tens of millions more illegal aliens will this amnesty draw across our borders?
I just received a letter from the Selous Foundation (never heard of them before) re the Law of the Sea Treaty. They're asking for signatures on Emergency Sovereignty Petition To the President to reject 'LOST'. At least a year ago, I wrote and called Hatch (who I thought was primary sponsor) and other Senators to reject this. Now appears Sen. Lugar is sponsor. What in the world is wrong with these Senators?? Why is it they don't realize they were sent to Washington to represent the citizens of the United States of America.....not to push their own agendas?! God help our country.
Suggestions are great. The problem is many are neither feasible or effective suggestions. They cannot guarantee success. I lived near the border for most of my life. I traveled alot years ago into the interior of Mexico, Guatemala and Central America. My wife and I speak Spanish and used to know a few illegals. I've heard people advocate deportation for years. I want to solve the problem of illegals too and I know that calls for deportation alone will not get you the results that we want and amounts to nothing more than political posturing. So spare me your whining.
Tancredo will emit a thunderclap from the top of his head, and bolts of lightning will spew from his ears. As I think about it, .. I just don't see the House coming close to signing onto this.
What's your point? The people who came through Ellis Island (including my ancestors) were dedicated to becoming Americans, and came here legally, were screened for infectious diseases and recieved no government handouts.
The 2-Party System is going to see the Whigs and Democrats take this country down the tubes!
To add to your logic: it's also awfully hard and a lot of work to arrest, detain, and prosecute every burglar. So let's just quit trying to stop any of them.
If they're here illegally how is anyone going to know how long they've been here? Oh, just trust their word, they won't lie. Ha!
Huh the people who came through Ellis Island wern't exactly Rockefellers.
I guess to you it is time to dismantle the National Monumnet at Ellis Island.
I don't believe that anyone has called for "deportation alone". Almost everyone is also in favor of actually taking border patrol seriously and going after employers of illegals with prison time.
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