Posted on 05/17/2006 12:32:49 PM PDT by BenLurkin
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted to build 370 miles of triple-layered fencing along the Mexican border Wednesday and clashed over citizenship for millions of men and women who live in the United States illegally.
Amid increasingly emotional debate over election-year immigration legislation, senators voted 83-16 to add fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southern border. It marked the first significant victory in two days for conservatives seeking to place their stamp on the contentious measure.
The prospects were less favorable for their attempt to strip out portions of the legislation that could allow citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants and create new guest worker programs.
The Senate acted in a volatile political environment, as the White House struggled for a second day to ease the concerns of House Republicans who contend that President Bush favors amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Thousands of demonstrators massed a few blocks from the Capitol demanding immigrant rights.
Construction of the barrier would send "a signal that open-border days are over. ... Good fences make good neighbors, fences don't make bad neighbors," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (news, bio, voting record), R-Ala. He said border areas where barriers already exist have experienced economic improvement and reduced crime.
"What we have here has become a symbol for the right wing in American politics," countered Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. He said if the proposal passed, "our relationship with Mexico would come down to a barrier between our two countries."
The Senate labored to complete work by next week on immigration legislation that generally follows an outline Bush set out in a nationally televised speech this week.
The measure includes provisions to strengthen border security, create a new guest worker program and crack down on the hiring of illegal immigrants.
Most controversially, it offers an eventual chance at citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country. Senate Republicans staged an impromptu, occasionally emotional debate over whether that amounted to amnesty.
Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana said it did. "Surely this is a pardon from what present law says must happen," he said of provisions in the bill that require immigrants to undergo background checks, pay back taxes and take other steps before they can become citizens.
Sens. John McCain and Chuck Hagel replied heatedly it was not amnesty.
"Let's stop the nonsense," said Hagel, addressing fellow Republicans. "You all know it's not amnesty." Said McCain, addressing Vitter, "Call it a banana if you want to ... to call the process that we require under this legislation amnesty frankly distorts the debate and it's an unfair interpretation of it."
Vitter sought the last word. "Methinks thou dost protest too much."
The clash erupted after Vitter sought a change in the legislation to strip out provisions of the bill that would allow for guest worker programs and give some illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship.
Supporters of the Senate measure credited Bush's prime-time Monday night speech with giving fresh momentum to the effort to pass long-stalled legislation.
Across the Capitol in the House, the story was different. Republicans pushed through a border security bill last year, and several members of the rank-and-file have criticized Bush for his proposals. To calm their concerns, the White House dispatched Karl Rove to their weekly closed-door meeting.
Rep. Steve King (news, bio, voting record), R-Iowa, an outspoken opponent of the Senate bill, derided the effort. "I didn't see it was a persuasive event. If it was about Karl Rove seeking to convince members of Congress after debate that he's right and we're wrong it would have been better not to have the meeting," he said.
King said Rove told lawmakers Bush is sincere about enforcement. But, he added, "The president doesn't want to enforce immigration law because he's afraid he'll inconvenience someone who wants to come into the country for a better life."
Rep. Peter King (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y., agreed that Rove did not seem to have been persuasive. "It's not the kind of issue you can compromise on; either you're giving amnesty to people who are here illegally or you aren't."
At the White House, press secretary Tony Snow defended Bush against criticism. "The president is actually taking a more aggressive role on border security than the House itself took," he said. "That is the sort of thing that is going to answer a lot of the complaints that we have heard."
The National Capital Immigration Coalition organized the afternoon demonstration on the National Mall a few blocks from where lawmakers debated the issue they cared about.
"This is a critical moment. We oppose the militarization of the U.S-Mexican border," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, one of the event's organizers.
Shermy, great point... it's absurd that 'border security' is now the 'compromise element' to bring the GOP on board what is 95% simply illegal immigrant legalization/amnesty,
when 'border security' is in the budget alrady and should have been done all along!
I also believe it is fundamentally wrong to not fix *INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT* too. Nobody is talking about it but it is more fundamentally broken than our border. Without the ability to deport ilegal immigrants and fine the employes of illegal immigrants, and without real verification programs, we continue to see illegal immigrant employment mushroom.
This is what we know about Bush... We know he believes anyone in the world who wants to come here and work should be given an opportunity to do so. Anyone who comes here illegally and finds a job and is a "good law abiding person" should have their status here legalized. Don't get Bush wrong, he is not for "amnesty", but for allowing those who come here illegally to stay and work in the United States. For years, Bush has done virtually nothing on border security. Instead he proposed a couple of years ago, a guest worker program to allow more people to come here. He has called Americans who seek to protect the borders, vigilantes.
"If we are going to take this issue on...lets take it on completely is what he is correctly proposing."
*Completely*? Really now ... does Bush propose a comprehensive solution that includes a solution to the problem of illegal alien border crossers who come here to have children so they are US citizens an dcan later be used as 'anchor babies' to bring the whole family to the US? And on it on US taxpaer dime, since they are indigent and US law forbids turning them away from hospital emergency rooms?
What solution does Bush have? What do you propose for that?
You don't understand. Anyone who comes here illegally and obeys the law, should be allowed to stay and work. It is a matter of basic human rights and compassion to the President and his pro-amnesty buddies.
And if you disagree, Charles Krauthammer thinks you should have your medications adjusted. Bill Kristol thinks you are a "yahoo". Bush thinks you are not compassionate. And Fred Barnes thinks you are hurting the Republican Party. Who cares about the nation, we must care about the Republican Party at the expense of the nation. The neo-cons have taken over the Republican Party. You are a "nut" if you disagree with them. You may even be a racist.
Now who is responsible for "splitting" the Republican Party.
Some fences are already there. There is a 23 mile fence south of San Diego on the border. There are other sections as well. All a fence does is act a force multiplier and it funnels the illegals to areas where we can control and detect them. There are also parts of the border that don't need fencing due the terrain, access, etc. This is a good start.
It is obvious by the votes that this is a sop to the conservative Reps who are really serious about border control, so they can vote for the final bill. I hope the House stands its grounds about citizenship. Although not desireable, I would accept some sort of permanent residency by never citizenship. You can't reward illegal behavior.
I just sent a new fax to my senators from numbersusa.com...
Dear Senator,
I was extremely disappointed by the President's immigration speech.
A recent Zogby poll shows that the enforcement-only approach of H.R. 4437, which most House Republicans supported in December, is the approach favored by most Americans.
The poll found that Americans want less, not more, immigration. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said immigration should be reduced so those already here are allowed to assimilate.
Furthermore, support for the enforcement-only approach cut across party lines, with 81 percent of Republicans, 72 percent of independents, and 57 percent of Democrats supporting it.
This suggests that the immigration plan the President outlined is not what a majority of Americans want. In fact, it is in direct contrast to what they want. Please pursue an enforcement-only immigration bill.
Cordially,
P.S. After having secured our borders I would support a more diversified guestworker program that includes all peoples of every nationality. Given that there is a long line of people in nations such as Vietnam, Cambodia and those of Africa, I do not believe it is fair to them to only include Mexicans and Central Americans as eligible for the guestworker program. Furthermore, I would be against offering the guestworker program to those already here illegally.
You can find this fax by proceeding to
http://www.numbersusa.com/faxes?ID=5520
The media said King said Rove said President Bush said...? That is a few too many he saids for me. I will only believe President Bush said that when I hear it from him. Whatever is going on- don't forget the media is not your friend.
"He is looking to address this in a comprehensive and systematic process."
Actually, he's looking to placate the vast majority of voters while providing amnesty and calling it "guest worker." Unfortunately, some, including you, are falling for this sham.
No joke. Bush really believes anyone who comes here looking for work and finds a job should be allowed to stay, so long as they are not a threat to this country. Bush is an "open borders" globalist.
Of course he is. He wants to 'encourage and help them' come, too! What he really wants is an army of slaves for companies (and other people) who want the cheapest labor possible without thinking of the big picutre and long term effects. Of course this is all under the guise of 'letting people in who want a better life.' Yeah, right. It's quite shocking, actually, how much he DOES NOT want to protect our borders and sovereignty.
"Don't get Bush wrong, he is not for 'amnesty,' but for allowing those who come here illegally to stay and work in the United States."
That's amnesty.
" You don't understand. Anyone who comes here illegally and obeys the law, should be allowed to stay and work. It is a matter of basic human rights and compassion to the President and his pro-amnesty buddies."
For a second I didnt detect the sarcasm... never-mind the mind-warp that goes around "law-abiding illegal immigrant".
I think there is something to be said for 'compassion' in the sense of being reasonable in application of the law.
But undermining the rule of law on a massive scale is not compassionate nor wise, it is an incitement to disrepect of law and order.
Thanks. My Representative, Lipinski (D-IL), voted for HR4437.
If you oppose cheap foreign labor, you are to blame for inflation. Not the people in charge of our monetary and fiscal policy, they are not to blame for inflation. It is people who make more than 20,000 a year and expect to make money. Corporations have every right to make tens of billions of dollars. That is their constitutional right. But for workers to share in any of that will result in inflation.
It was partly tongue in cheek. Don't forget that is what our president believes.
That amendment passed, too? It seems Sessions and company are chipping away at this bill little by little...but will it end up being enough to be effective?
Well, well, Congress seems to slowly be converging to the solution I've been advocating for over a year:
Tight border enforcement (including fences), tight internal enforcement, and a guest worker program. I just hope their 'mulling' citizenship ditches the fast-track to citizenship for folks who sunk in. A fast track to regular guest-worker status is fine with me (mostly for logistical reasons).
The Senate voted to build 370 miles of triple-layered fencing along the Mexican border
Amen.
Are you saying Steve King is lying?
What did he say about tax cheating employers who hire illegals in his speech on Monday?
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