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 ...
Bone toss.
Compromise, i.e. consensus...the absence of leadership
Me too, any bill like this is the kiss of death to the republicans and they are too stupid to know it. I will not vote for anyone who supports anything but total deportation with border security FIRST.
Cloture on the Spector bill just failed by a 39-60 vote in the Senate. Filibuster time.
In committee, the House will strip the bad stuff from the bill. They had to get a bill to the HOUSE, that would allow this to happen in committee.
LLS
In theory, yes, but what illegal alien will admit to being here less than 2 years, though? They will all simply say they have been in this country longer, and will use this loophole to stay. This is a defacto amnesty bill, IMO.
"if our party is going to survive as a viable entity."
Let it die. What use are they anyway?
"Why do I feel as if we've just been sold down the river? Again."
Because we have.
How are they going to document the length of the illegal stay in the US?
I agree this is a good middle of the road. Deport the newbies. Make the others become citizens, Stop anymore traffic. If all 11 million illegals were instantly made felons, I think it would be a nightmare to enforce. Put them all in jail? Comncentration camps? Cattle trains to Mexico? I do think it should be a felony for anymore newbies who cross.
They have no idea about the depth of the outrage...
They are going to learn real fast!
So, this explains why my husband is downstairs yelling at the TV.
The illegals get a reward for being here illegally, and we the taxpayers get to keep paying for their schooling and heathcare>
Good thinking Congress!!
Because we have!!
I think that American people should start electing patriots, not pathetic politicians.
How is getting screwed even worse by the Dems teaching anyone a lesson??? There's something wrong with this picture.
Oh no, this is the cult of republicanism. How dare you deviate from the party line.
They're going to find out in November.
Well...a lot of us here have been screaming to the skies for weeks and weeks now about what'll happen if Congress sells us out on immigration issues. It looks like it's going to happen, so we have some hard decisions to make coming into November. Do we risk handing seats to Democrats to teach our Republican representatives a lesson not to ignore the will of the people on immigration?
I've got a lot of thinking to do between now and Election Day.
}:-)4
yes, and that is what gets me about the whole thing. It is business as usual, illegals mean more than American citizens.
Any amnesty is....in your face, we don't care what you think.
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