Let's be careful here folks...in the hopes of finding a compromise, and I believe in the hopes of sneaking something by us, Senators have been congregating in Senator Frist's office ALL DAY considering a partial AMNESTY...the trick is in the details....those here longer than five years could INSTANTLY apply for citizenship. The rest of them if you read carefully do NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, but would have to go down to El Paso (a port of entry) where they then could apply for a green card...in short, this is a three card monty SCAM on us.

GOP strives for united front on immigration
By Charles Hurt
The Washington Times, April 4, 2006
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060 ... -8107r.htm

Republicans continued meeting late yesterday in Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office in hopes of reaching a compromise on immigration that would unite their caucus.

The immigration bill now on the Senate floor has splintered Republicans in Congress on an issue that polls show is a top priority for voters.

Supporters of the bill say the more than 11 million illegal aliens in the country deserve a path to full citizenship after paying a fine. Other Republicans say those illegals should be required to go home before applying for citizenship. Still others say the illegals should go home and the border should be closed until the government proves it can handle immigration in an orderly way.

One proposal that has been discussed would let illegal aliens who have been in the U.S. five years or more apply freely for citizenship, while those in the country less than five years could do so only at a point of entry into the U.S.

'Five years seems to be a reasonable line,' said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, who supports the current bill.

Another proposed compromise floating around would allow only those who have overstayed their visas to apply directly for citizenship. Anyone who had sneaked across the border would be required to return.

But neither of the proposals would satisfy Senate conservatives.

Drawing the five-year line still would grant what they call 'amnesty' to millions of illegal aliens, because they would not be forced to go home before applying for citizenship.

And allowing those who have overstayed their visas to apply directly for citizenship also raises concerns. Several of the September 11, 2001, hijackers had overstayed their visas, conservatives said.

Even if Senate conservatives can be mollified, House conservatives are not expected to support anything that goes beyond securing the borders. Meetings will continue today, with a gathering of the entire caucus in the Capitol at 9 a.m., Mr. Specter said.