Congress Nears Deal on Illegal Immigrants (breaking on cable networks)

AP/Yahoo News ^ | 4-6-06 | DAVID ESPO

[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.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

These people are like a broken record.

[Bikers4Bush]

To your point, I don't want anyone to be able to say the same about Buckeyes in a few years.

[omni-scientist]

Actually, they are going to find out sooner, as I and probably many, many others leave the GOP for the Libertarian or Consititution parties, or become Independent.

I can still vote for the occasional Repub when I find one, but they aren't going to count on me as one of their own.

[Rockitz]

What part of NO amnesty and NO guestworkers don't these SOBs understand?

[Smogger]

California is the main magnet and they have proven time after time that they have no intention of enforcing the laws nor limiting the benefits.

Hooey. We were the first state to pass laws limiting benefits to illegal immigrants, and Republican's in this state have been paying, rightly or wrongly, the price for Pete Wilson campaigning on behalf of Prop 187 ever since. Before Prop 187, latino's hardly voted in large number (except probably Republican latinos), after Prop 187 passed Latino activists organized, and handed a large number of votes to the Democrats. Latino voters, who vote Democrat, have forever changed the political landscape in California, and THAT is the reason NOT white elitist liberals, that California remains a stronghold for Democrats.

Furthermore, it's not the state's responsibility to enforce Federal borders.

Finally, the rest of the country could give a crap that California was being overrun by illegals until we reached the saturation point, and they started invading the South, Midwest and Northeast.

[JeffAtlanta]

The greatest damage - and there were so many things that we would need another thread posted - from clinton were the hundreds of Federal judgeships that he appointed. That is a burden that we cannot escape for a generation.

Like Nixon and Ford had a stellar record? How do we have to thank for the EPA?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.

Judging by your recent sign up date, and blatant disregard for the decorum and rules of this forum; either comprehension is not your strong suit or you are here to damage our conservative cause.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

They get the Bronx cheer from me.

[b4its2late]

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.

ACLU lawyers are quickly teaching illegal immigrants to raise both hands wide open at the same time when asked how long they have been here in this country.......

[bill1952]

Name the judge that either appointed that was as bad as ginsburg is.

[samcgwire]

It's getting closer and closer, not farther and farther.

[Serenissima Venezia]

Either that or he will say that when the administration "explained" the bill to him, that he now realizes the brilliant strategery that is going on.

Sigh. Then I'll have to quit listening to him again. I tuned in last week to see if he would actually say anything against W's guestamnesty after the protests, and was presently surprised. But not convinced enough to rejoin his 24/7 yet.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Bend Over, Here I Comes Again

Is that the ebonics version? :)

[Soul Seeker]

While a conservative would generally favor attempts to secure the border, it would be wrong to say that a conservative has to come down one way or another on the issue of guest workers or illegal alien deportation.

Granted BUT...brings me back to my other point in this thread.

The GOP has to offer its base something that will bring them out to vote FOR them. To propose amnesty on top of the other complaints various sections of the base are in an uproar about is closely amounting to political suicide. It is arrogance, at best, to assume they can offer nothing to make their base happy and they will show up to keep Republicans in power. It may be news to them, but most people out here no more think Republicans are entitled to power than Democrats. :-)

Would this proposal alone kill the GOP's chances in '06? No. Couple it with CFR, McCain's terrorist amendment, filibustered judges, spending, tax cuts still awaiting action, ANWR...well, you know the complaints I'm sure. It seems as though they have done everything in their power to alienate every section of the base, not just one element.

I am just not going to vote for a Party that offers nothing but its entitlement to power as cause to support them. That platform didn't sway me as Democrats have used it, nor will it work to the GOP's favor.

I appreciate your post. Someone could be sincerely wrong, but that does not mean that individual is an elitist.

You're welcome. And, agreed. Personally I disagree from the Majority of the country about Dubai. I'm not an elected official of a long lineage in politics. I am not rich. But I disagreed with them. Does that make me a poor elitist? Nah. LOL I'm okay with the President's right to disagree so long as it is based on strong principle and he's upfront about it, I only get upset when he does things like labeling the Minutemen vigilantes. That type of rhetric is no more welcome than claims he's "betrayed" us by pursuing a policy he said he would before election. Both he and they should tone that nonsense down.

But, I am against this amnesty proposal and it is one further depression in getting GOP voters out this fall. And the fact the Congress is oblivious to what they've done to the spirits of their base is telling in how out of touch they are, because no one will convince me proponents of this amnesty bill in the Congress are doing so on principles based on something other than politics.

[N. Theknow]

Have to add that to THE LIST

1. Build my own railroad
2. Dig my own potatoes
3. Pick my own cotton.
3a. If #3 is ignored, at least stay out of Pennsylvania
4. Drive my own car (no matter how badly Teddy wants to drive)

[STARWISE]

You're willing to risk losing 06 and 08 to insane traitors?? I pray you don't get your wish.

They just looked liked harmless hippies then.

[JeffAtlanta]

Let's say it's 3,000 places total, and let's say they're distributed evenly throughout the country -- 60 per state. 30 burger joints, 30 restaurants. Let's say each place employs a total of 50 people, between cooks, counter people/waiters, cleanup crew, management, etc. Let's say 10% are illegals in each place.

If the illegals becomes citizens and must now be paid legal wages then they will become unemployable. The business will either have to shut down due to higher costs or will have to import new illegals.

[GarySpFc]

I could envision myself voting for Alan Simpson or Pete Wilson-in spite of my pro-life principles-but if any open borders, illegal immigration advocate thinks he's getting my vote in the future he/she is sorely mistaken.

I am going to write several office holders and ask them to resign for betraying the country.

[samcgwire]

If the House caves, the GOP will lose both branches in '06 and the White House in '08. It might happen anyway, as rotten as it is from the head-back. Don't expect Republicans to beg for Bush to come a campaigning where those Conservative Republicans are running for re-election, either.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Excellent analysis.
There are enormous ripple effects possible here, and simply saying "shut down the businesses and round up the workers" is a bit simplistic and ignores a very real possibility of economic disaster.

But then congress and the president could both be blamed, and a special session could be called to legislate a "fix" for the economy. Nice and tidy for the extremists.