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 ...
We have been betrayed, by both parties.
Throw them all out (except the few who are against this disaster in the making).
Moving the goalposts now?
"Spoken like someone who's out of rational argument (did we mention deportation?) and resorting to personal attacks. What's next, cries of "racism"?"
Oh, Oh, theirs that card again. apparently you and Cynthia do not leave home without it.
reagandemo was stirring the pot with me. I responded to this poster in kind. You have no part in this. So butt out and get out of the way.
See post 446. Nicely done.
If we would just invade Mexico & overthrow their government.....this issue would be resolved.
LOL!
Don't bother telling me you are not an idiot!
I can finds millions of them just by looking for them and you KNOW it.
You are simply out of rhetoric and it shows bunnyboy!
We were all right, you played the race card.
Whoa! This is just the Senate, its only one house of Congress. The House of Representatives has a much different immigration reform bill. The Senate version isn't going anywhere until it's reconciled with the House version.
For example, criminal penalties for knowingly hiring illegals, and steep civil penalties for hiring them under a strict liability standard. Like others have said, crack down on employers, and eliminate the exemptions for independent contractors, etc. That independent contractor exemption is a biggee because that's how a great many folks get around the rules.
As for the illegals, one instance of being caught working illegally means a lifetime ban on ever being permitted to work legally, either as a seasonal migrant or permanent resident.
Anyway, do you favor those type of steps?
I thought that you wanted to get them all out of here. I mean if even one remains we are allowing criminals to stay in our country. Who is changing the goal posts?
I'd be happy with a plan that started with "of those who are detained/arrested while in the process of committing an illegal act" (besides the one they committed illegally entering).
We're burning up the phone lines at the Senate. Can anyone get through to anybody there?
Note post 446. He played the race card.
They can only pass this Senate monstrosity in the House with democrat votes. The question is will Hastert let that happen under pressure from Bush, who has already signaled support for the bill? At this point, although I hope you're right after what transpired with CAFTA I've got my doubts.
LOL...you really are in a predicament defending this madness.
"the people at Ellis Island we're not exactly Rockefellows."
You missed the point, I'm afraid. the subject was about social services. The immigrants of Ellis Island (some of my ancestors were) were tested for TB, and other communicable disesase. Many of them were sent back. They had to have a SPONSOR who agreed to care for them if they were unable to. We have TB on the border in spades now, and in the prisons, much of it the drug resistant kind. Oh, and they had to learn English.
Do what I just started doing - Mail back a peso!
I would just go out my front door and keep widening the circle.
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