Thread: Republicans propose immigration crackdowns to boost revived

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/ ... ngress.php

Republicans propose immigration crackdowns to boost revived bill

WASHINGTON: New requirements to track down, deport and permanently bar people who overstay their visas would be added to a broad immigration bill under a Republican bid to attract more support from the party's lawmakers.

The amendment, which also would prevent illegal immigrants from gaining lawful status until they had passed a background check, is among those the Senate will consider next week when it returns its attention to immigration law. The bill probably will see a final vote by month's end.

Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, an architect of a broader deal to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants, said Friday the amendment "will help substantially" in persuading his Republican colleagues to support the compromise.

He is sponsoring the proposal with Sens. Lindsey Graham and Mel Martinez, both fellow Republicans.

The legislation has sparked outrage among conservatives who contend it gives amnesty to lawbreakers and has been met with deep suspicion by Republicans who say their constituents have no faith that laws cracking down on illegal immigrants will be enforced.

"There is a sufficient outcry in the country to see that the law is enforced that senators appreciate the fact that we've got to show that we're serious now," Kyl said.

To assuage the worries, Democrats and Republicans already have added $4.4 billion (€3.3 billion) in mandatory spending to the bill to be used for border enforcement efforts and to weed out illegal workers from U.S. workplaces.

Still, the enforcement amendment is necessary "to illustrate to people that we're really serious about making this bill as good as it can possibly be," Kyl said.
Senate leaders plan to revive the stalled immigration measure Tuesday, with a test vote and consideration of a limited list of amendments designed to win enough converts to carry it to passage by the end of the week. A test vote is to determine whether the measure can draw the 60 votes necessary for contentious legislation to pass in the Senate.

They are facing a difficult job, given that many Republican waverers targeted as potential supporters are saying they will not support resurrecting the measure.

Sens. John Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, all Republicans, have said they would oppose the effort, even though proposals by Hutchison, Chambliss and Isakson all won slots on a list of two dozen amendments that would be considered before the bill is completed.

Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat, whose amendment to help family members of citizens and legal permanent residents qualify for green cards signifying permanent residency, also is slated for a vote, accused leaders of rigging next week's debate to give the advantage to Republicans bent on weighing down the bill with punitive measures.

"The process is tilted far to the right, far to the right, and it has provided little to no chance for those of us trying to bring the bill closer to where it was last year — which is to the middle — that opportunity," Menendez said.

His proposal would award more points to relatives of citizens and permanent legal residents in a new merit-based system for allocating green cards. It would strip a condition that such family credits count only if an applicant has substantial other qualifications, such as education, skill-level and English proficiency.

The bill would end the practice of granting relatives of citizens and permanent legal residents permanent residency based solely on family ties.

"All our amendment says is, 'Hey, what has been a bedrock principle of immigration law for well over four decades should not be totally abandoned, and that family, in our society, does have a value,'" Menendez said.

Kyl called Menendez's amendment "a nonstarter" that would have a "pernicious effect on the work-visa merit system."

Many of the proposals up for debate next week would pose major problems for the bill if approved. Republican amendments to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to gain legal status or permanent residency would likely alienate enough Democrats to put the bill in jeopardy. Democratic attempts to boost family-based immigration similarly could peel off Republican support for the measure.

The Bush administration is vigorously fighting a bipartisan amendment by Sens. Charles Grassley, a Republican, and Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Max Baucus to replace the employee verification system with one that would require fewer workers to be checked for legal status.

Give it up guys!!! There is nothing you can add or delete from this piece of crap that will make us change our minds!!

ENFORCE THE BORDER
ENFORCE THE CURRENT LAWS
BUILD THE FENCE
IMMEDIATELY DEPORT ILLEGALS WHO BREAK ANY LAW!!

That the deal guys.

Kyl can go to Hell.

he's finished. political career over.

Give it up guys!!! There is nothing you can add or delete from this piece of crap that will make us change our minds!!

NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY ARREST OR HOW MANY "SPOTLIGHT" RAIDS THEY CONDUCT....STILL AMNESTY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO BE DOING THESE RAIDS LONG AGO. EVEN IF THEY WERE ARRESTING AND DEPORTING TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY, IT WOULD STILL TAKE THEM QUITE A WHILE TO CATCH UP WITH THE WORK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING ALL ALONG.

AND THEY SPOTLIGHT IT LIKE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.