Thread: Sen. Feinstein plan expands illegals pool

Sen. Feinstein plan expands illegals pool
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published May 23, 2006

A Senate Democrat yesterday introduced a proposal to expand the pool of illegal aliens eligible for citizenship to include anyone who sneaked across the border before Jan. 1.

Under the amendment filed yesterday afternoon by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, all illegals who can prove they arrived before the start of this year would be issued an "orange card," which would provide a path to U.S. citizenship.

"This amendment would streamline the process for earned legalization," Mrs. Feinstein said, referring to the process by which an estimated 10 million to 12 million illegals could become citizens. "It would create a more workable and practical program and dedicate the necessary dollars to cover its costs of administration."

Under the bill being debated in the Senate, illegal aliens who came into the country within the past two years would still be subject to deportation. Illegals who had been here two years or longer could apply for citizenship.

"This means approximately 4.8 million people would be required to leave voluntarily or be deported," Mrs. Feinstein said yesterday in reference to the Senate bill. "I don't believe many of these people would go home. Even President Bush acknowledged that such a large-scale deportation program is unworkable when he said, 'It is neither wise, nor realistic to round up millions of people ... and send them across the border.' "

Mrs. Feinstein's amendment would require illegal aliens to immediately register with the Department of Homeland Security and submit fingerprints for criminal and national-security background checks. Once they passed the background checks, they could apply for an orange card.

In order to get an orange card, the alien would have to provide evidence they were already in the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2006. As under the current bill, aliens would have to learn English, pay back taxes and $2,000 in fines.

Several of Mrs. Feinstein's colleagues were hesitant to comment on her proposal last night, saying they had not had time to study it. It was not clear last night whether or when the amendment would receive a floor vote.

Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican who adamantly opposes granting amnesty to illegal aliens, said he did not think it would change his opposition to the larger bill as it is currently drafted.

"Sounds to me like it has the same infirmities that the current bill does," he said yesterday.

The National Council of La Raza, which supports granting citizenship to illegals, endorsed the Feinstein plan.

"One of the most basic principles of real comprehensive immigration reform is reasonable solutions that will bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and into the sunlight so that they will be able to work and live free from constant fear of deportation," the group said in a letter yesterday to supporters.

Last night in the Senate, Majority Leader Bill Frist filed a "cloture motion" to ensure a final vote on the immigration reform legislation before the end of this week.

The Senate yesterday also rejected a proposal by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Republican, aimed at removing an incentive for farmers to hire illegal aliens. The amendment would have equalized the wages paid to immigrants working on farms.

Currently, migrant workers who are in the U.S. legally under the H-2A program are paid more than illegal aliens in the same areas. If farmers are required to pay both equally, Mr. Chambliss argued, then farmers would be less inclined to hire illegals.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, said the bill would have amounted to a pay cut for all agricultural workers.

"Those who have flaunted the rule of law by refusing to utilize the temporary-worker program for agriculture -- the H-2A program -- have gained a tremendous economic advantage over their counterparts who have adhered to the laws on the books today," Mr. Chambliss said after the Senate voted 50-43 to reject his amendment. "We know from past experience that once farmworkers are legalized through an amnesty, they leave farm work."

http://washingtontimes.com/national/200 ... -3285r.htm

In order to get an orange card, the alien would have to provide evidence they were already in the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2006. As under the current bill, aliens would have to learn English, pay back taxes and $2,000 in fines.

I heard on Lou Dobbs last night that the illegals only need pay back taxes on three out of the last five years to comply with this.

I wish I could get a deal like that, but then I haven't broken the law so I get nothing from these traitors in the Senate.

Feinstein has a lot of nerve sending me letters saying "I, too, am against blanket amnesty" and then sponsoring a bill which would do just that. Frankly, I couldn't agree with her more that the tiered system is ridiculous and completely unworkable, but come on--the answer is not to just say "it's too tough to sort out who's legal or not--everyone can stay." Not that I'm happy with the legislation as it is, but thank goodness this nonsense didn't pass.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/n...migration.html

Senate rejects letting all illegal immigrants stay


By Suzanne Gamboa
ASSOCIATED PRESS

8:36 a.m. May 23, 2006

WASHINGTON – The Senate rejected a California Democrat's plan to allow the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country to remain, work and eventually become Americans, preserving a fragile bipartisan coalition needed to pass the bill.
Several lawmakers who voted against the proposal offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday said they did so reluctantly, but out of necessity to ensure survival of the broader immigration bill. The legislation is expected to win Senate passage Wednesday or Thursday.

“This legislation is on the edge of the ledge as it is,” said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, one of the Republicans supporting a delicate compromise that has kept the bill alive – letting two-thirds of illegal immigrants stay but making the other third leave.

Feinstein's amendment, defeated 61 to 37, would have supplanted the compromise that allows illegal immigrants here five years or more to stay and work six years and seek legal residency after paying back taxes and fines and showing they were learning English.

Those in the country two to five years under the compromise would have to go to a point of entry, exit and file an application to return as a guest worker. Those here less than two years must leave the country, but could apply from their native country to return as a guest worker and wait in line to get a visa.

“I have come to believe that the three-tiered system is unworkable, that it would create a bureaucratic nightmare and it would lead to substantial fraud,” Feinstein said Tuesday.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said the compromise bill could mean losing Latinos in his state who have helped revive some of its small towns by buying homes and starting small businesses.

Feinstein offered the plan just before Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist set the stage for a preliminary vote Wednesday that could quickly bring the bill to a final vote. The bill appears headed for passage.

A bigger fight on the bill is still to come – when the House and Senate meet to negotiate a compromise bill. The House passed an enforcement-only bill that makes illegal immigrants felons, cracks down on hiring of illegal immigrants and steps up border security. It offers no path to citizenship or a guest worker program, which critics say is amnesty.

“If we are lucky, the House of Representatives will say it's got to be better,” Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said of the Senate bill after predicting Monday it would pass.

Feinstein's proposal faced an uphill climb. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said it suffered the same “infirmities” as the bipartisan bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which offered citizenship for all illegal immigrants.

Feinstein's proposal required all illegal immigrants to register with the Department of Homeland Security, get fingerprinted and go through criminal and national security background checks.

They would get an “orange card” encrypted with identifying information and signifying they are legal workers after passing the background checks, demonstrating an understanding of English, U.S. history and government and paying back taxes and a $2,000 fine to apply.

They would go to the back of the line and could apply for legal permanent residency when a number they are given is reached.

Also Monday, the Senate showed support for President Bush's plan to deploy National Guard troops to the border by endorsing an amendment authorizing governors to order their state's Guard units to perform duties in border states.