WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republicans and Democrats closed in on a last-minute compromise Thursday on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said he had been assured President Bush supports the measure, and would publicly say so later in the day.
As outlined, the measure would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the future flow of immigrants into the United States and offer legalized status to the millions of men, women and children in the country unlawfully.
"We've had a huge breakthrough" overnight, said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee.
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, agreed, but cautioned that the agreement had not yet been sealed.
Even so, the presence of both leaders at a celebratory news conference underlined the expectation that the Senate could pass the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades, and act before leaving on a long vacation at the end of the week.
The developments marked a turnaround from Wednesday, when it appeared negotiations had faltered. The key sticking point involved the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, and the struggle to provide them an opportunity to gain legal status without exposing lawmakers to the political charge that they were advocating amnesty for lawbreakers.
While final details were not available, in general, the compromise 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.
Not everyone was satisfied. A spokesman for Sen. John Cornyn said the Texas Republican was opposed to the measure. There was no immediate reaction from GOP Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona or Jeff Sessions of Alabama, two other prominent critics of earlier proposals dealing with illegal immigrants.
Beyond the illegal immigrants, there were other thorny issues to be clarified. Senate leaders had yet to publicly unveil draft legislation to make sure that only legal workers were hired in the future, for example.
Nor was it clear what type of assurances, if any, Democrats had received from the White House and Republicans about compromise talks with the Republican-controlled House later this year. The House has approved legislation limited to border security, and while GOP leaders have signaled support for a broader measure, Democrats have expressed concern in recent days that they will be pressured to make unacceptable additional concessions to achieve a final compromise.
Great, so now they plan to give the majority of the 11 million ILLEGAL immigrants legal status. So we get tighter border security at the cost of millions of uneducated citizens and a work program?
I would still like to see criminal prosecution and deportation for illegals and then criminal prosecution for those that hire illegals at a felony statute
Yeah, good luck with that. I also just heard that the term "illegal immigrant" is being replaced with "undocumented immigrant" to be politically correct. You know, our government is going to finally push the American public too far. A Revolution is heathly every now and than.
I am suprised that there hasn't been a revolution with the way this administration has screwed up so bad in so many ways. When will the people take back the land from the corrupt polititions and reclaim it as our own. Hey wait a minute, that already happened in 1776.
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Yeah, but what has me worried is this. Even though bush and company act like idiots when it comes to the good of the American people, they know what their doing. I would also imagine that the majority of America will not agree with this. Even more so if the big guys start picking up cheap labor and getting rid of everyone. So, how is our government going to distract us this time?
Not just that, but every other politition in the U.S. is just as corrupt. When he gets out of office he'll be replaced by another jerk who is just as bad. Sure, he or she may have different hidden agendas but it will be more of the same, screw the people out of their hard earned money and remodel their homes and put money in secret accounts.
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So, how is our government going to distract us this time?
With the aid of the ever present media of course. Bird flu maybe? Here's a trivial bit of info for ya, SARS killed more people worldwide than this bird flu has. Sars even made it to the USA faster than this bird flu has.Scare tactics have worked for centurys, and now with world wide media coverage, scare tactics are even more efficient.
They always COMPROMISE our rights. They don't loose a thing, in fact they just keep getting richer and fatter. They truely think that our rights are thiers to deal with as they choose. Over 80% of the voting population wants the illegals out of the country. But the business people who stuff cash in the congress crttiers pockets get thier wish - cheap labor and at our expense.
BTW - I want more than a day without a mexican. They only consist of 5% of the working population. Do you really think the minial jobs they hold will stop the economy if they don't show up?? If they think that, why don't they crap in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first.
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They should have stopped at "Congress shall make no law"
As if taking our money and providing no health care is enough they want control more than anything. once they get so high up in the ladder of politics, they are all corrupt. Do you think Bush ever worked a real hard day in his life like us? Do you think he actually landscaped his yard, no he paid a Mexican 50 cents an hour to do it. They hav the money, they want the control so they can prevent an uprising and muffle the what is REALLY going on. Do you think what you read in the papers is what is really going on. Ever listen to NPR, it is much different. They want to silence the Abby Hoffmans and make the U.S. seem like it is a resort to the outside world when in fact everyone is upset about everything.
What ever happend to for the people by the people?
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I'm telling you martial law will be in effect before bush leaves office, thus suspending the elections. Theres very few ways this could happen. One being a major attack on US soil, it would need to be a nuclear attack, enter the happenings with Iran. Another idea is a civil war or some sort of uprising against our government. As someone said, theres always the bird flu. Let that thing jump person to person and every town in America will be under the militaries control.
Life must be so hard for the 2nd and 3rd generation politions. At least their parents had to work for what they handed down to their kids. Look at Bush, his dad is a real man, a hero. Bush was so wild and out of control he nearly failed the best private school money can buy. Then, he copped out of the forces and now he has no control over his kids because he himself is and was so darned spoiled and handed everything.
I don't know about you guys, but I have never had an easy day in my life. I was never handed anything and I busted my arse for everything I own. To even try to campain for politics you have to be rich and it is all the spoiled rich kids who get into office and think what they do is perffect. I mean how bad can life be when you were born into millions?
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I'll tell ya something that burns me up, these liberals with rabies out there whose hatred for all things Bush related, have jumped on the bandwagon to protest the illegal immigrant law. They blindly follow the lead of their fellow rabid liberal anti american propagandists without even thinking of the consequence.Most hate Bush without even knowing why, when asked you get reponses like " he's stupid" or " he looks like a monkey" or He's just like hitler" or some other verbatim reply they learned from listening to anti american aclu liberal pieces of fecal matter.I'll agree Bush has handled things badly, but at least have an intelligent reason for jumping on the liberal bandwagon. Illegal immigrants are HARMING the USA, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the damage.They work for low wages, don;t pay taxes, bleed the system of financial resources, send the majority of their earnings back to their home country, and contribute NOTHING to the betterment of American society. The sooner ILLEGALS are dealt with, the better we'll all be.I refuse to buy into the PC crap, I don't really care if calling them illegal immigrants hurts their little feelings, they are called illegals for a !!!! good reason, they BROKE THE LAW by coming here. Calling them undocumented doesn't change the fact, it only changes the weak minded mind.
I am not liberal or conservitive, just plain independent and actually have thoughts of my own that I drew up from my own thoughts on what I have seen thus far on my existance on this planet. I am just using Bush as a classic example of the message I am trying to put forth. I know that whoever takes his place will be no better. I hate all polititions no matter what classification they are.
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What have any politition done for me besides limit my rights. I know I was born into a country where I am lucky enough to have those rights from my intial breath to my last, but I see nobody standing out to preserve those rights, and if you say that Bush or Clinton have done so you are wrong. Know politition cares about preserving our rights because they live above the law.
IF they (government) actually did their job and did something about this problem 20 years ago when they should have, then it wouldn't have gotten this bad. (The immigrants)
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Last edited by Beer Forever; 04-06-2006 at 01:32 PM.
It's about taking control of the country and the wealth of the nation, isolating that wealth into a few hands. Businesses are allowed to hire these illegals at lower than minimum wage wages. So where does the money go? You guessed it, right into the hands of the wealthiest individuals.
Like deep throat said - follow the money and you'll find the culprits. They are the real enemy.
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They should have stopped at "Congress shall make no law"
Great, so now they plan to give the majority of the 11 million ILLEGAL immigrants legal status. So we get tighter border security at the cost of millions of uneducated citizens and a work program?
