Thread: Republicans aim to make it harder for illegal immigrants to

Republicans aim to make it harder for illegal immigrants to get permanent residency


2007-06-05 19:50:51 -


WASHINGTON (AP) - A broad bipartisan immigration measure was under threat Tuesday as the Senate prepared to vote on a Republican proposal to make it harder for millions of illegal immigrants who would gain lawful status to qualify for green cards.

Green cards are an alien's proof of legal residency.

The proposal by Republican Sen. Wayne Allard would eliminate extra points that illegal immigrants could get in a new merit-based system for work done while they were in the United States illegally, owning a home or having health insurance. The scheme awards the most credit for employment criteria such as education and skill-level.

The Senate also will weigh in on a bipartisan bid to require employers to recruit U.S. workers before giving a foreign laborer a job under the measure's controversial new temporary worker program.

Showdowns are ahead as early as Tuesday afternoon on Democratic efforts to allow more family-based immigration under the bill and more Republican proposals to make the path to legalization for illegal immigrants more burdensome.

Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, an architect of the bill, said he would oppose the family changes despite his sympathy for the efforts.

«I'm going to stay with the agreement,» Kennedy said of the so-called «grand bargain» he struck with conservative Sen. Jon Kyl, a Republican, and other Republicans and Democrats from across the political spectrum.

That leaves in doubt the fate of a proposal by Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat, to allow more than 800,000 people who had applied for permanent legal status by the beginning of the year to get green cards based purely on their family connections, which the bill as it stands will end for most relatives who began the process for coming after May 2005.

A close vote also is expected on a bid by Republican Sen. John Cornyn to bar illegal immigrants who have defied deportation orders from gaining legal status. That could cut down substantially on the number of unlawful immigrants who would be able to take advantage of the bill's path to legalization.

The bill, a top domestic priority of President George W. Bush's that poses a perplexing political dilemma for Republicans and Democrats, is widely regarded as the best chance for Congress to act on immigration, possibly for years to come.

«There are a number of threats and opportunities before us,» said Frank Sharry of the National Immigration Forum, part of a coalition of liberal groups pushing hard for passage despite some grave misgivings about the measure.

Kennedy said lawmakers who listened to their constituents over a Memorial Day break last week heard that «the American people want action on immigration reform.»

«We know that we are facing some challenges,» Kennedy said, referring to a host of amendments that could scuttle the deal.

«Those of us, the dozen or so, who have put this bill together are finding it very, very hot to handle,» said Sen. Arlen Specter, a Republican.

Specter said he would like to support some of the changes being put forth this week, «but if we're to keep this bill intact to the extent of being able to pass it, there are going to be a lot of very tough votes.»

In addition to Menendez's proposal, several Democratic presidential hopefuls have proposed family-related changes.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat who is running for president, is proposing to allow more spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents to immigrate to the U.S., by exempting them from visa caps.

The Senate also is considering a bid by Sen. Christopher Dodd, also a Democratic presidential candidate, to more than double, to 90,000 a year, the number of green cards available for parents of U.S. citizens.

Sen. Barack Obama, yet another candidate for the Democratic nomination, plans an attempt to phase out the point system that gives little credit for family ties to a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.

http://www.pr-inside.com/print144817.htm

Kennedy said lawmakers who listened to their constituents over a Memorial Day break last week heard that «the American people want action on immigration reform.»

Yes teddy you fat drunk puke, we do want reform, JUST NOT YOURS!!!

Kennedy will sneak it in during the late night conference. Don't worry the whole bill will be changed and not for the better. Our Congress changes many items within all bills during conferences.