Thread: House, Senate Divided Over Illegal Immigrants

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House, Senate are divided over illegal immigrants
Disagreement could prevent any changes

March 24, 2006

Thousands of Latinos and their supporters march through Milwaukee on Thursday during "A Day Without Latinos" in protest of a bill that passed the U.S. House in December. The bill would make it a felony to be illegally in the United States. Latino businesses shut down for about two hours to support the rally.

(KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/Knight Ridder-Tribune)
WASHINGTON -- While many members of Congress appear eager to toughen control of the nation's borders, a showdown over plans to accommodate millions of undocumented immigrants already settled in the United States illegally could prevent any changes from winning approval in this election year.

Senators from both parties are advocating a plan that, while tightening enforcement, would also let many of the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States pay fines for breaking the law, pay taxes, learn English and -- after several years -- apply for citizenship. The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the plan Monday, with a debate in the full Senate scheduled for later next week.

But should such a plan win approval, it will place the Senate at odds with the more conservative House. That body already has approved a bill that imposes stricter border control without making allowances for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States. Critics call relief for illegal immigrants unwarranted amnesty for willful lawbreakers.

As immigration has increased, a political fault line has opened, with growing Hispanic populations creating a powerful political force in states such as Florida, Texas and California, and creating tensions in the Midwest where workers fear the loss of jobs. Both parties are increasingly courting Hispanics.

The debate also has divided the Republican Party. Business-minded Republicans stress the reality of a labor force that many employers rely upon; cultural conservatives insist that any accommodation of illegal immigrants rewards lawbreaking and makes a mockery of the nation's borders.

When it comes to accommodating illegal immigrants, "no matter what you call it, a lot of people on our side don't even want to debate it," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. For many in Congress, he said, "it's a very simple answer to a complex question: 'Send 'em all back.' "

This strife will make it all the more difficult for the House and Senate to agree on an immigration bill, something President George W. Bush has sought since his first term.

"This could be a fractious debate," Bush conceded Tuesday. "And I hope it's not."

In this congressional election year, with Republicans fighting to retain control of Congress and both parties trying to impress voters with their resolve on security, the deadlock could mean nothing passes.

The White House is calling for a bill that encompasses border security as well as a provision for temporary workers in the United States. A bill that addresses only border security, or a failure to win any bill at all, could represent another setback for the president's domestic agenda.

Many analysts believe no bill is the most likely outcome.

"Given the president's approval rating these days, and with one-third of the Senate up for re-election this year, they are not going to follow the president off the cliff on this one," said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which opposes what it calls amnesty for undocumented workers.

"If the Senate does go ahead and pass something that looks like amnesty, they will never get this passed in the House," Mehlman said.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has made clear he'll push a border protection bill if senators can't agree on another plan. But Senate Democrats vow to oppose an enforcement-only bill, with Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., arguing that immigration has been haphazard for decades and that making criminals of millions of people serves no purpose.

Frist has said that if the Senate Judiciary Committee can't produce a bill, he'll take his own plan to a Senate vote the final week of March. Frist's pressure has prompted the divided committee to try again for an agreement when senators return from recess Monday.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is working to craft a compromise, based on a plan by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., that would let those illegally in the United States eventually seek citizenship.

The undocumented could pay a $1,000 fine, pay taxes, undergo criminal background checks and then, after six years, apply for legal residency. After more background checks and showing that they're learning English, they could apply for citizenship.

"It depends on how much you want to alienate the American people," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas. "The administration is on the wrong side of public opinion and the American people when it comes to amnesty, when it comes to increasing immigration and when it comes to bringing in cheap foreign labor to compete with American workers and legal immigrants."

pay fines for breaking the law, pay taxes, learn English and -- after several years -- apply for citizenship.

The undocumented could pay a $1,000 fine, pay taxes, undergo criminal background checks and then, after six years, apply for legal residency. After more background checks and showing that they're learning English, they could apply for citizenship.

All of this requires a person to be honest which this group of people are not. How can this work no Illegal is going to want to pay money or do anything when they can remain in the Shadows with ease. i just do not see them coming forward on their own.