Dems unveil immigration plan today \ 8 million to 12 million on track to American citizenship

THE DENVER POST ^ | May 4, 2004 | DP

[VU4G10]

Democrats today will present an alternative to the sweeping immigration reform plan announced by President Bush in January.

The Democratic lawmakers who will announce the plan at a Washington press conference say the reform is both more concrete than the statement of principles offered by the White House and more likely to appeal to immigrants and their supporters.

Among the most significant differences is the Democrats' offer to allow anyone who has been in the country at least five years and worked for at least two to become a legal permanent resident.

That would put most of the 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants now in the country on track to American citizenship.

Bush has proposed allowing nearly every illegal immigrant now living in the United States to work, live and travel freely in and out of the country for six years or more.

Most would be expected to eventually go home, however, where they could take advantage of tax-free savings accounts and retirement funds set up by the U.S. government.

One of the Democrats' provisions would exempt immediate relatives - parents and children - from the 480,000 visas issued under the current family reunification program. That could allow millions of new immigrants to legally enter the United States each year in order to join relatives.

While Democrats say they want a plan that provides immigrant workers who have lived and worked here for years a chance to stay permanently, they also proposed tighter restrictions on the entry of new, employer-sponsored workers.

The number of those workers would be capped at 250,000 a year, and employers would have to pay prevailing wages based on Department of Labor data.

[My2Cents]

It will be interesting to see if this proposal generates as much heat on FreeRepublic as Pres. Bush's proposal did.

[So Cal Rocket]

If President Bush shot himself in the foot with his immigration plan, then the Dems just shot themselves in both feet, both knees and their behind!

[stevio]

No no no. This is good! Now Bush can do it first and out maneuver the democrats! Oh happy days!

[gubamyster]

ping

[John Thornton]

The number of those workers would be capped at 250,000 a year, and employers would have to pay prevailing wages based on Department of Labor data.

In other words, employers would have to pay union wages to people with essentially no skills.

[hsmomx3]

This just made my day. Let's put all of these legislators on the AZ border and see how they like it. Sick. Bush will lose AZ because of this.

[junta]

I hope so for America's sake.

[DumpsterDiver]

What makes politicians think that these millions of "immigrants" are just clamoring to become citizens? Not wanting to be deported isn't the same thing as having a desire to become a part of this country.

[MegaSilver]

Most would be expected to eventually go home, however, where they could take advantage of tax-free savings accounts and retirement funds set up by the U.S. government.

Great.

[MegaSilver]

It will be interesting to see if this proposal generates as much heat on FreeRepublic as Pres. Bush's proposal did.

Liberals are by nature naive about this sort of thing.

Bush calls himself a Conservative. He ought to know better.

[c-b 1]

It will be interesting to see if this proposal generates as much heat on FreeRepublic as Pres. Bush's proposal did.

One would hope Republicans would respect the soveriegnty of the country.

My Congressman, el supremo gun grabber, don Raoul Grijalva de Me.Ch.A Azatlan, is a cosponsor on this piece of garbage, he won't be happy until this country is a colony of Mexico. I expect this from he, and his ilk.

[oceanview]

not for the voters they are trying to attract with this proposal, for the voters the Dems are trying to attract, this is smart politically.

[blackdog]

How could working here two years illegally be legal?

I mean this immigration craziness makes as much sense as telling a heroin addict that if he shoots up for two years, then for him, heroin is legal.........I feel like I'm in some strange society that makes new rules every day, never regarding the rules from yesterday. It's all very confusing.

[Regulator]

That would put most of the 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants now in the country on track to American citizenship

His proposal merely postponed this for three years. All they did was outbid him, a political bidding war that everyone knew would occur when he went into pander mode.

The 12 million that they now admit to (remember the 3 million nonsense just a few months ago?) will quickly morph into about 3 times that number, based on statistics from the last amnesty. IOW, it represents something on the order of 48 million mostly Mexican nationals becoming eligible to be "citizens" of the United States.

They will, over about a 15 year period (the time constant noted from the 1986 amnesty; mostly related to BICE processing times, and family reunification chain immigration to run its course), become the single largest ethnic group in the United States, complete with a set of laws which privilege them above native born Americans who happen to have somewhat pinker skin. With this in mind, it's easy to see that they will control the political future of the United States.

So there's your "heat". Tell me how we're all wrong, and if only we would go along with W's plan, why everything would be all different.

[Little Ray]

Since we're considering voting for the folks proposin' this travesty, I would bet not.

Still this proves that whatever your differences with President Bush, at vote for him is a vote against this sorta thing.

[rbmillerjr]

Bush is wrong lol.

But the Dims are wronger and dumber.

This is an issue that could sway moderate voters and win the election for the Dims. Bush has thrown them a changeup with the baes loaded and the Dims still don't get it.

Thank goodness for that.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I don't think so. This is the kind of legislation we expect to come out of the DNC. We don't expect this kind of crap from a Republican president.

I keep telling myself that George has something up his sleeve, being the excellent poker player that he is. I'm still shocked that he would even suggest such a proposal.

[B4Ranch]

I'm glad to see the Democrats don't want to be outdone by President Bush.

Myself, I think we should give citizenship papers to everyone who gets across the border, legally or illegally!

[Carry_Okie]

Carl Rove needs to learn: You can NEVER out-pander the Slave Party.