Thread: Tighter border first; immigration later

Tighter border first; immigration later
Staff and agencies
09 May, 2007




By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer Tue May 8, 5:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration and key senators are struggling to agree on draft legislation to secure the U.S.-Mexico border before putting millions of illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship that could take 13 years.

Officials familiar with the discussions say that despite concessions by both Republicans and Democrats, a final agreement may not come before the Senate opens debate on the issue next week — if at all.

Still, the outlines of a possible deal have taken shape in almost daily secret talks attended by two members of President Bush ‘s Cabinet. As contemplated, the proposal would bar undocumented immigrants from gaining legal status until the administration beefs up border security and implements a high-tech identification system for temporary workers. The same trigger would apply to new immigrants seeking temporary visas as guest workers. Such measures are expected to take up to two years.

Sen. Edw, , ), D-Mass., has been leading negotiations with Republican senators and White House officials in hopes of cutting a bipartisan deal on the issue before the Senate wades into an explosive immigration debate. But some Democrats are hesitant to embrace conditions they successfully opposed when the Senate debated the issue last year.

Sen. Arlen Specter (, , ), R-Pa., one of the lawmakers involved in the negotiations, made a plea Tuesday for more time, warning that moving too quickly could provoke a GOP filibuster.

Republicans are seeking to neutralize an issue that party strategists believe hurt them in the 2006 elections. Some GOP lawmakers, however, are wary of alienating core conservative backers who want to crack down on immigration and enact stricter laws.

Reshaping the immigration system is a top priority for President Bush, who has said he hopes Congress can deliver a measure by the end of summer.

Kennedy must balance his appetite for a deal against the concerns of other Democrats and liberal activists who find the conditions for immigration policy changes — sometimes called "triggers" — unacceptable. They also object strenuously to proposed changes that would curtail legalized immigrants‘ ability to petition for relatives to come to the United States and would forbid temporary workers from bringing family if their income is below 150 percent of poverty level and they don‘t have health insurance.

"You just can‘t comprehensively reform something until you first solve the problem, , , ), R-Ga., a leading proponent of the conditions.

"They‘re not de, , ), D-N.J., who h, , ), R-Fla., the party chairman who supported last year‘s measure, for backing the Bush administration‘s new, more restrictive stance.

One ad urges Martinez to "remember your roots," and support a measure similar to the 2006 immigration bill, warning, "If you turn your back on this, a generation of Latinos will not forget."

Many lawmakers believe reaching a bipartisan immigration compromise could inoculate both parties against political peril in 2008.

"Immigration was used against those people who supported a bill last year, including me," Menendez said. "A bipartisan bill would be a lot more difficult to use as a political tool against people in either party."


http://www.onelocalnews.com/duntonsprin ... &id=107039

I would like to know why this congress feels that we have to have a pathway to citizenship of any kind...BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS!!!!

Kennedy must balance his appetite for a deal against the concerns of other Democrats and liberal activists who find the conditions for immigration policy changes — sometimes called "triggers" — unacceptable. They also object strenuously to proposed changes that would curtail legalized immigrants‘ ability to petition for relatives to come to the United States and would forbid temporary workers from bringing family if their income is below 150 percent of poverty level and they don‘t have health insurance.

Can you imagine what this country would look like in ten years if these "liberal activists" got everything they wanted?

"Immigration was used against those people who supported a bill last year, including me," Menendez said. "A bipartisan bill would be a lot more difficult to use as a political tool against people in either party."

Who is he kidding? If they pass an amnesty, the Republicans will be the big losers!

The Dems, holding the majority, will get the credit, while the Republicans will lose MANY conservatives to a third party.

I for one will vote for a third party candidate before I'll vote for anyone who supports amnesty.

Everyone should be emailing Mel Martinez as he wants some kind of amnesty for them.

Originally Posted by JAK

I would like to know why this congress feels that we have to have a pathway to citizenship of any kind...BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS!!!!

Hey, here's an idea. We put one illegal alien family on a path to citizenship for every politician and "liberal activist" who renounces their US Citizenship and moves out of the US!

Now that would be a "grand bargain"!