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Hutchison, Cornyn Oppose Compromise Immigration Bill
Senate Nears Deal On Immigration Reform

(April 6, 2006)—Both of the state’s Republican senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, issued statements Thursday saying they oppose a compromise that’s in the works in the Senate on immigration reform.

The compromise measure could pave the way to giving illegal immigrants legal status and eventual citizenship.

It would be the Senate's most sweeping immigration bill in two decades.

The bill would also enhance border security and regulate the future flow of immigrants into the nation.

The compromise would have different requirements based on how long illegal immigrants have been in the country, including no guarantee that those here fewer than two years would be able to return.

Hutchison told Fox News Thursday she opposes the measure that Senate Republicans and Democrats are hammering out.

“I think the compromise is wrong because it still allows people to come to our country illegally and know, that if they wait long enough, they will be able to get into the citizenship track with very little responsibility,” Hutchison said.

“I do believe in a guest worker program,” she said, “but I don’t think the bill before us, the compromise bill, is the right one and that’s why I think we need more amendments and more debate and try to do this right.”

Cornyn said the compromise would leave the immigration reform bill “fundamentally flawed” and would “repeat the mistakes of the past, but on a much larger scale because 12 million illegal immigrants would still be placed on an easier path to citizenship.”

“We understand that majorities have a vote. But those of us who have other ideas about how this bill can be improved shouldn’t be crowded out of the process,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn says the compromise would not only place about 12 million illegal immigrants on an easier path to green cards and citizenship, but would also leave felons, repeat criminals and illegal immigrants who ignored deportation orders eligible for legalization and would allow hundreds of thousands of temporary workers to get green cards without normal U.S. worker protections.

He also said the measure’s information sharing restrictions could keep the Homeland Security Department from investigating fraud.

Click Here For U.S. Senate Web Site http://www.senate.gov/

Click Here For Sen. John Cornyn’s Senate Web Site http://cornyn.senate.gov/

Click Here For Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Senate Web Site http://hutchison.senate.gov/