Thread: Senators Wrangle Over Immigration Bill

Senators Wrangle Over Immigration Bill
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
1 hour, 26 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - The Senate rejected a call Tuesday to secure the nation's borders before tackling other immigration-related concerns such as citizenship for millions of men and women in the country illegally, a victory for President Bush and supporters of a comprehensive approach to a volatile election-year issue.


The vote was 55-40 against a proposal by Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga, who said that anything less than a border security-first approach amounted to "a wink and a nod one more time to those who would come here" unlawfully.

Republican and Democratic supporters of the sweeping Senate bill said Isakson's approach would be self-defeating and derail the approach that Bush backed in Monday night's prime time speech from the Oval Office. "We have to have a comprehensive approach if we're going to gain control of the borders," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass.

Eager to blunt any political fallout from opposing Isakson's proposal, the bill's sponsors countered with an alternative of their own. Backed by Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., it said immigration changes envisioned in the legislation could proceed if the president declared they were in the national security interests of the United States.

The Senate cast its first votes on the immigration bill as Bush renewed his call for Congress to act. "The objective is, on the one hand, protect our borders; and, on the other hand, never lose sight of the thing that makes America unique which is, we're a land of immigrants and that we're not going to discriminate against people," he said at a news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Bush drew continued criticism from House Republicans for his speech, and the White House sought to emphasize the border security elements of the president's plan.

"This is going to be a tremendous enforcement support partnership," U.S. Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar told reporters at the White House, anticipating the deployment of up to 6,000 National Guard troops to states along the Mexican border.

"We can certainly do what is asked by our commander in chief," added Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, National Guard Bureau Chief.

Blum, Aguilar and others stressed that National Guard forces would function in support roles, leaving front-line law enforcement against illegal immigrants in the hands of federal Border Patrol agents.

Republicans expressed support for new attempts to secure America's porous borders, but they rebelled against another element of what Bush calls a comprehensive plan to alter immigration laws.

"Thinly veiled attempts to promote amnesty cannot be tolerated,' said Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. "While America is a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws, and rewarding those who break our laws not only dishonors the hard work of those who came here legally but does nothing to fix our current situation."

Any legislation that emerges from Congress will eventually come from House-Senate negotiations.

But first, the Senate had to act, and there, Bush's speech won praise from Republicans and Democrats alike lining up behind long-stalled legislation.

Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said he and other supporters had the support needed to defeat any crippling amendments offered by critics. Bush's speech "solidified some votes," he told reporters.

"The president gets it," added Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Behind the rhetorical lovefest lay political calculations — politicians of both parties stressing their election-year credentials as tough on illegal immigration in an era of terrorism.

Still, the impact on the Senate floor was to demonstrate support for legislation that combined several elements — toughening border control, creating a new guest worker program and opening the door to eventual citizenship for most of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country. The same bill includes provisions to toughen enforcement of laws against the hiring of illegal workers by businesses.

The centerpiece of Bush's speech Monday night from the Oval office was his announcement that as many as 6,000 National Guard troops would be dispatched, in coordination with governors, to states along the Mexican border to provide intelligence and surveillance support to Border Patrol agents. The Border Patrol would remain responsible for catching and detaining illegal immigrants.

"We do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that," the president said.

Still, Bush insisted, "The United States is not going to militarize the southern border."

While much of the advance focus on Bush's speech was on border security — a major issue for conservatives — the president's comments on possible citizenship for illegal immigrants were more explicit than earlier remarks and showed an effort to appeal to moderates and business owners who favor liberalized immigration laws.

"Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant, and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree," he said.

"It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation."

If they vote for the President's amnesty plan, Senators from both sides of the aisle are going to find themselves unemployed come election day!!
No way they are going to come out clean on this!!!

I discovered this comment posted on www.steinreport.com under the article entitled "Verdict on Bush Speech: Too Little, Too Late", dated May 16, 2006. Please read it as it is vitally important:

"I would really like to know where our President has been the past 6 years. Even being the governor of Texas, obviously he has no clue whats going on nor does he care. He's more concerned with putting relatives of his staff into top level positions who also have no clue whats going on.

Sending 5000-6000 national guard to the border is a joke and i hope the american people dont buy into his AMNESTY scheme. When he says no more "catch and release", when is that going to begin, probably when he leaves office or never. Catch and release has been going on for years.

Its sad when another country dictates to the American people who should be here and call the american people racist when they (the American people) dont agree.

I am a 20 year veteran Border Patrol Agent and just last week i was stopping at a store when a hispanic female came out and in her exact words to me "viva la raza, your the illegal and we're taking over" and yes i was in uniform. I just laughed at her until she saw my name tag which is a hispanic last name " the she proceeded to call me a traitor to the race." I just smiled and went on about my business even though she and her brother wanted a confrontation with me.

On another note, about the presidents' speech. Why did he bring up that tearful, heart-warming story about the immigrant serving in the Marines (in which I do myself admire) that wanted to be a US Citizen. People who serve in our armed forces should be allowed some degree of first in line or close to it legalization. BUT WHAT DISTURBS ME IS THAT HE DOESN'T MENTION THE SHERIFF DEPUTY THAT WAS SHOT BY 4 ILLEGALS FROM EL SALVADOR, OR THE HOME INVASIONS BY ILLEGALS FROM GUATEMALA, OR THE CAR THEFTS FROM MEXICANS WHO RACE TO GET TO THE BRIDGE AND ARE HOME FREE, OR ALL THE POLISH AND HUNGARIAN VISA OVERSTAYS THAT IVE ENCOUNTERRED, all by the way were "caught and released". NOT ONCE DID HE MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT ALL THE CRIMES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN DEPORTED SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY AND ARE BACK HERE COMMITTING MORE CRIMES.

His logic is that these are all honest hard working people who only want a better life. Well who doesn't. Will my kids and grandkids be able to get a college education and a job, probably not if they dont know spanish, or that all the guest worker children will get their freeby tuition and scholarships.

If he is going to give amnesty to 20 million people,WHY STOP THERE, go ahead advise and advertise to all the countries around the world, send us all your poor and unskilled laborers, we take anyone and everyone regardless of how you respect our borders or laws. Protest in our streets and will give you what you demand. As long as you vote for THAT ONE (joke).

Anyway, alot of agents as well as myself are ready to call it quits being that an agent trying to protect the border is tired of getting shot at and rocks thown at in the front while the U.S. Government is behind you stabbing you in the back.

Hello 3rd world,

Good luck America, God Bless, and good bye to the American way of life.

Posted by: one who knows on May 16, 2006 02:02 PM"

What do you folks think of this comment on steinreport.com?