Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
True.
If we were taking them in in small groups they would be assimilated just all other immigrants.
But this isn’t immigration - its invasion.
And the objective isn’t assimilation - its slave labor or hopes for votes later.
The communists have been working on the very slow takeover of America for over 40 years. The goal was to take one party, the Democrats, of course, and then to take the other party. This leaves of with no recourse. One is like the other with different paths. There are more than one way to the outhouse, just more than one path to get there. They all lead to the same hole.
Will we wake up and do anything?
Uh, I have very real doubts.
THIS IS BULL SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Bushbots are breaking out their excuse matrices
Indeed. Heck, if the Dems wanted to burn GWB at the stake, you'd find many conservatives donating firewood.
Of course, there will be no impeachment. Why would the Dems want to put Cheney in the White House, when Bush is giving them most of what they want?
You got that? Clinton did a better job than Bush.
HAHAHA!!!
Very true!!!
Excuse me - Es verdad!!!!
Dwight Eisenhower did it to 1 million illegals with ships and planes.
This has been a long time coming. The camel is in the tent. There is no turning back.
I just wonder what the conservative voter turnout will be in ‘08. Kind of like going to a restaurant wanting a fillet mignon and only seeing cheese and rice on the menu. Only problem is, this is the only restaurant left.
Enjoy the crappy meal, that is all your gonna get.
It wouldn't make a difference.
Has not Mr. Bush earned himself a well-deserved honorary Mexican citizenship with this "reform"?
His courage in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack makes no difference, with his having consigned America to a 3rd-world future in which liberals have a lockbox on the electoral process.
- John
Are you really that gullible?
DISGUSTING! And Bush is along for the ride.
"We sell out America but make millions. Cool."
free dixie,sw
Unless someone Repubs in congress stop this its Goodbye Republican party, hello President Clinton.
This will destroy our country and along with the unpopular war means certain defeat in 2008.
I guess Bush really is a new kind of conservative, the kind only Teddy Kennedy could like.
Goodbye RNC, don’t ask me for more money, its all going to Duncan Hunter.
Unless someone Repubs in congress stop this its Goodbye Republican party, hello President Clinton.
This will destroy our country and along with the unpopular war means certain defeat in 2008.
I guess Bush really is a new kind of conservative, the kind only Teddy Kennedy could like.
Goodbye RNC, don’t ask me for more money, its all going to Duncan Hunter.
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