Thread: Republicans Say Rallies Won't Aid Immigration Measure

Republicans Say Rallies Won't Aid Immigration Measure (Update1)
May 2 (Bloomberg) -- The nationwide rallies of immigrant- rights supporters yesterday won't increase momentum in the Senate for immigration overhaul legislation, and may harden opposition to it, some Republican senators said.

``It's one step forward, probably two steps back,'' said Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who backs a proposal that would give millions of undocumented immigrants a chance to gain legal status.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched in peaceful demonstrations around the country yesterday, demanding legal status for those in the U.S. illegally. Some immigrant-rights supporters also participated in boycotts, skipping work or school and forcing some businesses to close for the day because of the absence of workers.

The protests may influence senators as they try to reach agreement on a proposed overhaul of U.S. immigration laws. Some senators oppose the legislation, which includes the creation of a new guest-worker program, and it faces opposition from House Republicans, who passed a measure last year that focused on strengthening border security.

``I don't think we got any votes as a result of the protests,'' said Florida Republican Mel Martinez, an immigrant from Cuba who supports the Senate proposal. ``The message ought to be a pro-American message and I'm not sure that's what I saw.''

House Legislation

The demonstrations yesterday follow nationwide rallies last month against the House measure that would have made it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally and called for the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the Mexican border, without offering a chance at legal status for undocumented immigrants or creating a guest-worker program.

In Los Angeles, the police department estimated that more than 300,000 people took part in yesterday's demonstrations. Large rallies also occurred in Denver and Chicago, and hundreds of people marched near the White House in Washington.

Some Republican senators said the image of millions of people marching for the rights of undocumented immigrants and waving flags of other countries may increase the opposition of lawmakers who are against the immigration measure, and might sway public opinion against it.

``I don't think the American people react well to a protest that says, `we don't have to follow the law of the U.S.,''' said Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, an opponent of the immigration legislation.

`Positive' Affect

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, disagreed, saying the proposed overhaul of immigration laws was aided by the demonstrations.

``They have helped picture this issue in the minds of the American people in a positive fashion,'' he told reporters today.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said the Senate will return to the legislation, which is backed by President George W. Bush, before the end of this month. The measure would give a path to citizenship to many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants and create a new guest-worker program.

A bipartisan agreement on the legislation stalled last month as Frist and Reid split over how many amendments would be allowed. Reid has proposed allowing votes on a maximum of 10 amendments from each side.

Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas said that amendments shouldn't be limited. ``We need a fair process,'' he said.

Reid is also pressing for assurances that the legislation won't be significantly changed when senators meet with members of the House to resolve differences between the House and Senate legislation. Martinez said those kinds of guarantees are impossible.

Boycott Plans

Organizing groups were split on whether participants should skip school or work to join in yesterday's protests.

Some companies, such as Springdale, Arkansas-based meat- producer Tyson Foods Inc., closed factories to allow employees to attend demonstrations. Absences in the Los Angeles Unified School District rose to 27 percent of sixth through 12th grades, up from 10 percent a year before, according to a spokesman.

Douglas Lee, president of Economics From Washington, a Potomac, Maryland, research firm, said that while a one-day boycott would have a limited effect on the U.S. economy, some small companies and areas may briefly suffer lost business.

``It's not something you'd get terribly concerned about from a macro-economic perspective,'' he said.



To contact the reporter on this story:
Nicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... E&refer=us

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said the Senate will return to the legislation, which is backed by President George W. Bush, before the end of this month. The measure would give a path to citizenship to many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants and create a new guest-worker program.

I guess none of these clowns actually watched any of the demonstrations.

If they had, they would know that nothing less than unconditional citizenship is what is being demanded, along with completely open borders.

The illegals are unappeasable. They're screaming it in the streets.

What is it going to take for the government to figure this out?