Thread: Republicans block youth immigration bill

Republicans block youth immigration bill

– 52 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans on Saturday doomed an effort that would have given hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants a path to legal status if they enrolled in college or joined the military.

Sponsors of the Dream Act fell five votes short of the 60 they needed to break through largely GOP opposition and win its enactment before Republicans take over the House and narrow Democrats' majority in the Senate next month.

President Barack Obama called the vote "incredibly disappointing."

"A minority of senators prevented the Senate from doing what most Americans understand is best for the country," Obama said. "There was simply no reason not to pass this important legislation."

Dozens of immigrants wearing graduation mortarboards watched from the Senate's visitors gallery, disappointment on their faces, as the 55-41 vote was announced.

"This is a dark day in America," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles. "The Senate has ... thrown under the bus the lives and hard work of thousands and thousands of students who love this country like their own home, and, in fact, they have no other home."

Hispanic activists and immigrant advocates had looked to the bill as a down payment on what they had hoped would be broader action by Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress to give the nation's 10 million to 12 million illegal immigrants a chance at legal status.

It targeted the most sympathetic of the millions of illegal immigrants — those brought to the United States as children, who in many cases consider themselves American, speak English and have no ties to or family living in their native countries.

"They stand in the classrooms and pledge allegiance to our flag," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the bill's chief sponsor. "This is the only country they have ever known. All they're asking for is a chance to serve this nation."

Critics called the bill a backdoor grant of amnesty that would encourage more foreigners to sneak into the United States in hopes of being legalized eventually.

"Treating the symptoms of the problem might make us feel better ... but it can allow the underlying problem to metastasize," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. "Unfortunately, that's what's happening at our border."

The legislation would have provided a route to legal status for an estimated 1 million to 2 million illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. before age 16, have been here for five years, graduated from high school or gained an equivalency degree and who joined the military or attend college.

Democrats' determination to vote on the bill before year's end reflected the party's efforts to satisfy Hispanic groups whose backing has been critical in recent elections and will be again in 2012. They said they'll try again in the next Congress, despite the increased GOP presence.

"The echo of this vote will be loud and long," said Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, D-Ill., a key House sponsor of the bill. "We are at the tipping point that will define the political alignment of the Republican and Democratic parties with Latino voters for a generation."

"This country has a history of opening its arms," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "Today, it's arms were closed, but we're going to get there."

Three Republicans — Robert Bennett of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Richard Lugar of Indiana — joined 50 Democrats and the Senate's two independents in voting for the bill.

Five Democrats — Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas — joined 36 Republicans in blocking it. Not voting were Republican Sens. Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Orrin Hatch of Utah and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

___

Associated Press reporter Sofia Mannos contributed to this report.

Typical liberal bias reporting, should read "youth illegal immigration bill",
and should we consider those up to 30 youth.



quote("This country has a history of opening its arms," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "Today, it's arms were closed, but we're going to get there.")quote

Good for you Senator let us open our arms to all people from around the world no matter the numbers and we will continue our slide into mediocrity.

"They stand in the classrooms and pledge allegiance to our flag," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the bill's chief sponsor. "This is the only country they have ever known. All they're asking for is a chance to serve this nation."

This comment makes me so mad - it is total BS. Our kids have to go out into halls in many schools to say the pledge of allegiance. where has this BS artist been?
Serve as what - professional students on the government dime?

President Barack Obama called the vote "incredibly disappointing.

Not as disappointing as the consequences, problems, and huge costs associated with such a stupid Bill...

My gosh, common sense prevailed. All is not lost! The best news of the day today.

What now? Border closure, law enforcement, deportation, cleaning up the country or business as usual in 2011?

And...like the other poster said, it was about "ILLEGAL" immigration not legal immigration... They sure like to make it sound like people are anti-real-immigrants. What a bunch of B.S.

Originally Posted by oldguy

"They stand in the classrooms and pledge allegiance to our flag," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the bill's chief sponsor.

I thought they stopped saying the pledge in school because the phrase, "One Nation Under God" was deemed to be offensive to others. Who is Durbin trying to fool with that statement.

"They stand in the classrooms and pledge allegiance to our flag," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the bill's chief sponsor. "This is the only country they have ever known. All they're asking for is a chance to serve this nation."

Yeah sure..then they turn around and march in our streets with their mexican rag, displaying their true loyalties!

So, If I go to Europe and pledge allegiance to some country there, should that grant me automatic citizenship or right to stay? How stupid is that?
Can't some of these people grow a functioning brain?

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www.google.com

Three Republicans — Robert Bennett of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Richard Lugar of Indiana — joined 50 Democrats and the Senate's two independents in voting for the bill.

Five Democrats — Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas — joined 36 Republicans in blocking it.

In 2012 need to work hard to terminate Lugar and as many of the Dems as possible who voted for this monstrosity. Some time next year we need to come up with a list of who can most realistically be defeated. We also need to support the Patriotic Democrats who voted against it.

"They stand in the classrooms and pledge allegiance to our flag," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the bill's chief sponsor.

It is not possible for foreign invaders to pledge allegiance to the US flag, even if they pretend to.

"This is the only country they have ever known.

This giant lying traitor makes me puke, over 90% of them came after age 6, that includes the ones who would have lied about their entry age.