Progress on immigration, but success still in doubt

[lsmith1338]

Progress on immigration, but success still in doubt

Palm Beach Post Editorial

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Congress is closer to passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill than at any time during the last two decades. But closer doesn't mean close.

As the debate begins to sharpen focus on the contentious details of a guest-worker program and border security, advocates on all sides are staking out positions of no retreat.

The week began with 35 conservative radio talk show hosts descending on Washington for an event called "Hold Their Feet to the Fire." The commentators came to the capital to rally opposition to legislation that would allow "amnesty" to the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country. Defining amnesty is half the debate. Conservatives say it is any path to legal status for people who have entered illegally. Immigrant advocates believe proposals that would impose fines, collect back taxes and put applicants in line for citizenship for up to 11 years hardly qualify as amnesty.

A Washington Post poll found that 81 percent of people said the government isn't doing enough to stop illegal immigration, but 62 percent also said illegal immigrants already in the country should keep their jobs and get a chance at legal status. On Tuesday, the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that wants less immigration, released a report that found that out-of-wedlock births among Hispanic immigrants have more than doubled since 1980, a trend that reflects the rate among native-born Americans. The implication is that illegal immigrants do not have the strong family values President Bush and other immigration advocates claim.

The Brookings Institution points out that the U.S.-born labor force will decline as Baby Boomers age, and the country will need foreign workers to fill the gap. The Washington-based think tank invited Reps. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., to discuss their bipartisan reform bill called the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act. It has the blessing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the guest-worker program the White House wants. Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John Kyl, R-Ariz., are collaborating on a Senate version.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is telling business groups that "comprehensive immigration reform is no longer a question of if, but when and how." It is also a question of how much. A sticking point is the size of fines for illegal immigrants. A fine too high will keep them from participating in the program; a fine too low won't satisfy moderate lawmakers who need political cover to embrace reform and fight off conservative radio talk show hosts.

Mr. Gutierrez may be right that comprehensive reform is coming, but whether it's close is an open question.
http://link.toolbot.com/palmbeachpost.com/75988

[ProudAmericanFamily]

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is telling business groups that "comprehensive immigration reform is no longer a question of if, but when and how." It is also a question of how much. A sticking point is the size of fines for illegal immigrants. A fine too high will keep them from participating in the program; a fine too low won't satisfy moderate lawmakers who need political cover to embrace reform and fight off conservative radio talk show hosts.

So it is all about the PRICE of the sale. Not about whether the sale is right or wrong. As am American Citizen, I am declaring, that you do NOT have MY permission to sell my country piece by piece. I am going to keep making noise and adding to the roar until you understand that!