Thread: Democrats' immig. proposal calls for benchmarks... (BOGUS)

Note highlighted part: "interim legal status" (i.e., amnesty):
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Democrats' immigration bill calls for benchmarks before illegal immigrants can change status
SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer

April 28, 2010 | 3:45 p.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An emerging immigration proposal by three Democratic senators calls for more federal enforcement agents and other border security-tightening benchmarks before illegal immigrants could become legal U.S. residents.

Those goals "must be met before action can be taken to adjust the status of people already in the United States illegally," according to a copy of the draft legislation, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, that Sens. Harry Reid of Nevada, Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez are developing.

The benchmarks include additional Border Patrol officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to combat smuggling; more ICE inspectors at work sites; an increased number of ICE officers assigned to detect fraudulent documents, and better ways to determine fakes; more personnel to check for contraband at ports of entry; additional resources to prosecute drug and human smugglers and illegal border crossers, and for deportations.

An outline of the proposal does not specify the additional agents or resources required to meet the benchmarks. It does suggest a two-phase system for legalizing people who are in the U.S. illegally.

Before the benchmarks are met, the Department of Homeland Security could begin registering, fingerprinting and screening illegal immigrants, and considering them for an interim legal status. That would allow them to work in the U.S. and travel outside it.

Such immigrants could start applying for legal permanent residence, eight years after backlogs of visas for people coming to the U.S. legally have been cleared and after the security benchmarks are met. They also must show they have basic citizenship and English skills, have paid all taxes, fees and civil penalties and registered for the military draft.

Arizona's new strict immigration law has led to renewed demands for Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill. Reid, the Senate's majority leader, recently said he is committed to taking up immigration this election year, but also backed away from a possibility of addressing the divisive issue before climate change.

Spokesmen for the three senators declined comment.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has worked with Schumer on an immigration bill, has balked at moving ahead this year. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, Graham, R-S.C., said drug violence along the border with Mexico is evidence that the border is not secure. He said immigration reform would crash and burn if brought up this year.

Democrats have failed so far to get a second Republican to join Graham in writing the bipartisan immigration bill. The outline of the immigration proposal issued Wednesday is an attempt to persuade some Republicans to change their mind.

A 10-point border security plan offered this month by Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain, who is in a tight GOP primary, and Jon Kyl also called for increases in border and immigration personnel and equipment.

Asked about the Democrats' proposal, McCain said, "We have to get the border secure first." He repeated the statement after being told the proposal requires border security benchmarks to be met before illegal immigrants can become legal permanent residents.

Kyl said a law isn't needed to secure the border, just funding. "Will they support adequate funding to achieve all of these goals?" he asked.

http://www.latimes.com/business/nationw ... 9465.story

We already have immigration laws, but they don't fit the agenda of the progressives.
Enforce the existing laws.

Before the benchmarks are met, the Department of Homeland Security could begin registering, fingerprinting and screening illegal immigrants, and considering them for an interim legal status. That would allow them to work in the U.S. and travel outside it.

Such immigrants could start applying for legal permanent residence, eight years after backlogs of visas for people coming to the U.S. legally have been cleared and after the security benchmarks are met. They also must show they have basic citizenship and English skills, have paid all taxes, fees and civil penalties and registered for the military draft.

That's rewarding them for breaking our laws. "Interim" legal status??? WTF? Is that supposed to be some kind of sick joke??

I'm sure the "backlogged" would-be immigrants are thrilled to know they will be punished by having to wait their turn in their own countries, after following all the laws. All the while law-breakers get to stay and continue to suck at the public teat! In essence, crime DOES pay. How is that a good thing???

ENFORCE THE DAMN LAWS AND DEPORT!!!!

Good points Miguelina. This is such a deceptive, cynical amnesty scheme I hope no one is fooled by this. It's the same old amnesty, or as they call it "interim legal status," with promises of future enforcement.

Its all about getting liberal votes.

I wouldn't trust them to write anything that isn't laden with loopholes. Plus lots of work for lawyers.

There should be SOME pushback from the left (and right, too) on the biometric ID card. Perhaps this ID provision would help kill the idea with enough liberal senators.

Another thing that does influence liberal senators against amnesty is when union bosses start complaining. With all of the unemployment in this country there should be some statements from union leaders opposing illegal immigration. Higher skilled unions like the Machinists have stayed anti-illegal immigration even while affiliations like AFL-CIO have jumped on the bandwagon.

The "progressive" labor movement is starting to fall apart, anyway. My union, Carpenters, pulled out of the SEIU dominated coalition, Change to Win, over a year ago. And now with many locals having half of their membership unemployed, or more, the rank and file are very alarmed at the thought of amnesty.

So if you have the time, look for statements coming from union leaders or even members who oppose amnesty. The liberals listen to organized labor voices.

Democrats' immigration bill calls for benchmarks before illegal immigrants can change status
SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer


Before the benchmarks are met, the Department of Homeland Security could begin registering, fingerprinting and screening illegal immigrants, and considering them for an interim legal status. .

So which comes first Suzanne, the benchmarks or the legal status? You have written it both ways!!! I guess you don't think people will read or understand the entire article, but only the false headline? What a bunch of lying anti-American creeps the AP is.

bttt