Thread: Menendez fears immigration setbacks

Menendez fears immigration setbacks
N.J. senator opposes some amendments being considered. He favors merit-based system.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
By BILL CAHIR
The Express-Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. | An alarmed U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez said he would support two key motions to bring an immigration bill to a final vote. But Menendez wasn't sure he would endorse the overall bill once all the GOP amendments and other legislative hurdles were cleared.

"There's one poison pill after the other, largely on the Republican side," Menendez claimed at a news conference Friday.

In particular, Menendez said he would oppose a plan by U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman to authorize state and local police officers to arrest people on federal immigration charges.

The Senate on May 24 defeated the Minnesota Republican's proposal, 49-48. But Coleman may get another bite at the apple under a deal that will allow at least 10 more GOP amendments and nine Democratic proposals, if not more, to the Senate immigration bill when debate resumes this week.

Menendez, D-N.J., also said he would resist an amendment by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who would compel both spouses in any family to return to their country of origin before completing their application for legal residency under the Senate bill's new Z visa.

"That's a killer amendment," declared Menendez.

The current draft of the Senate bill would create Z visas for illegal immigrants who pay $5,000 in fines, pass criminal background checks and have one family member return to the country of origin to apply for the right to permanently stay in the United States.

Menendez is sponsoring one amendment of his own. His proposal would modify the merit-based immigration system drafted by U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., key Senate Republicans and Bush administration officials.

The existing draft for the merit-based system would award scores of up to 100 points to people with high-tech skills, with work experience in the United States and with an ability to speak English fluently. Only people who earn 55 points under the merit system would get additional credit for having relatives in the United States.

Menendez would afford slightly higher merit scores, giving 10 additional points to people with a parent or sibling already living in the United States.

"If we can't get 10 points to uphold the semblance of values that we have relied upon for several decades, then I don't know where the family values crowd is left in the United States Senate," Menendez said.

Bill Cahir is Washington correspondent for The Express-Times. He can be reached at 202-383-7848 or by e-mail at bill.cahir@newhouse.com.

© 2007 The Express Times
© 2007 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

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In particular, Menendez said he would oppose a plan by U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman to authorize state and local police officers to arrest people on federal immigration charges.

Of course he opposes it, because that is one that would have a tremendous effect on illegals and they can't have anything that resembles REAL enforcement, only ones that would make it SEEM like something is being done. What a bunch of morons! You will never control it unless this is part of the plan and they know it!