Posted on 05/11/2007 4:47:24 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
(CBS) With protesters taking to the streets, and Americans looking to Washington for a solution, never before has immigration reform been tackled this way: Politicians at opposite ends of the debate collaborating in secret to devise a new comprehensive plan.
According to CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson, the group, which includes Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, has met for hours several times a week since March — with Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff acting as point man for the White House.
How unusual is it for Democrats, Republicans and White House Cabinet officials to be writing a bill together at the start? Sen. Graham said, "I've never done this before. I've been in the Congress now for over 12 years."
CBS News has been told the plan that could be announced next week attempts to please hardliners by spending billions to secure the border first. But all 12 million-plus illegal immigrants could stay. They'd have to register and pay fines for having entered illegally.
To become citizens, they'd go to the end of the line behind those who've already applied.
Under a new merit plan, points would be given for work skills and language: The more points, the faster they can become citizens.
And everyone — even U.S. citizens — would have to prove who they are when applying for a job.
The bottom line: An illegal immigrant here today could remain in the U.S., but would have to wait at least 13 years to become a citizen.
Negotiators agree some critics who call for mass jailings or deportations of illegals will call this compromise amnesty and oppose it, but with the House indicating it will follow the Senate's lead, it's still the last best hope for immigration reform any time soon.
"If we fail, if we cannot get this bill done, then this is it for years to come," Graham said.
That's because once this window of opportunity closes, all sides have said it'll be too close to presidential elections to tackle a subject that's such a lightning rod.
Another BIG thing needs to be that babies born here are not Americans if born to non-American mothers. Not only do the Central/South Americans abuse this but the Koreans and Africans also. Many nations fly women into safe houses until their due date, make taxpayers pay for the delivery, take a taxi “home” and then fly back with an American birth certificate. Change it now Congress!!
Also need to add that children in schools get IDed so that we know just how many we’re educating.
Oh, for crying out loud. I bet little Pandsey batted his eyelashes when he said that.
Never because they know so few favor the massive numbers they want to keep shoving in.
don’t forget that amnesty sham called 1996 Citizenship USA
I’m not sure Ted and Lindsey are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Gotta love the MSM, right?
HINT: they don't care!
Being here, absorbing the benefits and largess of the USA, is what they are after. Citizenship clearly means nothing to 90% of them and it means nothing at all to those already guilty of other crimes and/or planning new and bigger ones.
"...some critics who call for mass jailings or deportations of illegals will call this compromise amnesty and oppose it..."
Got that right sparky.
"...it's still the last best hope for immigration reform any time soon."
(Because) "If we fail, if we cannot get this bill done, then this is it for years to come.."
Fine; I'll settle for 'only' a secure border and deportation, at the originating country's cost, every illegal busted for a second crime...along with their families who are clearly accomplices.
That ought to be doable without changing any significant laws.
Works for me.
“They’re LIBERALS! I hope the good people of South Carolina boot that traitor Graham out of office”
Amen!!
IF ILLEGAL ALIENS CAN BREAK THE LAW WHY CAN NOT LEGAL AMERICANS?
WHY SHOULD THE ILLEGALS ALIENS GAIN AND THE LEGAL AMERICANS NOT?
WHAT GOOD IS THE LAW IF PEOPLE DO NOT ABIDE BY IT?
You can sure tell the things that I'm passionate about, can't you? LOL! Gun grabbers, illegals and traitors!! I have no use for any of them. ;o)
if ted kennedy is involved,
then it couldn’t be much of a “deal”.
We happen to hold the same passions. Let’s hope we can do something constructive about it.
Here's a thought. We could take our guns and drive the gun grabbers, RINOS and the illegals all out of the country. LOL Riiiiight! Well, you have to admit, it sure sounds good. ;o)
That may come to pass.
I heard this on the news. That is a lot of people to keep in this country who are breaking our laws by being here. This is of course not mentioning all the other crimes they commit while here such as drug dealings, rapes, and murders. How do they even know that it is actually 12 million people? Did they sit there and count them as they walked in illegally? Maybe the Rats did, I dunno. Plus, these people will have kids and attempt to bring family over. Who says a bunch more won’t come over until the borders are secured, and who says some won’t get through after? I see it getting worse, especially if they can obtain American benefits with their amnesty. The taxpayers are going to be paying a lot of money. Some probably won’t even register (like if they are up to no good) and continue to get paid under the table. The borders need to be secured (preferrably with the wall), but making a deal with the devil Dems isn’t the way to do it.
The legal number has grown, mainly due to chain migration. There are quotas or caps on various categories of immigration, which are set by Congress. There are at least six million qualified legal immigrants abroad who have completed their paperwork and are waiting to get in. This can take as long as 10 to 15 years.
Prior to 1965, the US was taking around 178,000 legal immigrants annually. In 1965, Congress replaced the national origins system with a preference system designed to unite immigrant families and attract skilled immigrants to the United States. With these changes and some subsequent ones, the result was that most of our legal immigrants now come from Asia and Latin America, and not Europe. Chain migration designed to unite families has also brought in aged parents, children, uncles, etc., many of whom are not contributing to our society and in fact, require more social services. Even with quotas in certain immigration categories, we are now legalizing the status of over one million people annually and millions more are waiting in lines overseas for their turn to come in. Chain migration has also changed the "mix" of immigrants, making it less diverse.
Mexico accounts for 31 percent of all immigrants, with 10.8 million immigrants living in United States, more than the number of immigrants from any other region of the world. Immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean account for the majority of immigrants, with 54 percent of the foreign‑born coming from these areas. Of those who arrived 2000 to 2005, 58 percent are from Latin America. This lack of diversity has hindered assimilation and could well result in the Balkanization of the country by language and culture.
What is going on today is unprecedented in our nation's history. Here are some facts gleaned from Bureau of the Census data that provide an indication of what is really happening:
---The 35.2 million immigrants (legal and illegal) living in the country in March 2005 is the highest number ever recorded -- two and a half times the 13.5 million during the peak of the last great immigration wave in 1910.
---Between January 2000 and March 2005, 7.9 million new immigrants (legal and illegal) settled in the country, making it the highest five-year period of immigration in American history.
---Immigrants account for 12.1 percent of the total population, the highest percentage in eight decades. If current trends continue, within a decade it will surpass the high of 14.7 percent reached in 1910.
---Of adult immigrants, 31 percent have not completed high school, three-and-a-half times the rate for natives. Since 1990, immigration has increased the number of such workers by 25 percent, while increasing the supply of all other workers by 6 percent.
---The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 29 percent, compared to 18 percent for native households.
---The poverty rate for immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) is 18.4 percent, 57 percent higher than the 11.7 percent for natives and their children. Immigrants and their minor children account for almost one in four persons living in poverty.
---One-third of immigrants lack health insurance -- two-and-one-half times the rate for natives. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for almost three-fourths (nine million) of the increase in the uninsured population since 1989.
Taking in a million immigrants is not alright with me. It is having a major impact on our population growth. Since 1970, the population of the US has increased by 100 million; since 1990; by 53 million; and since 2000 by 20 million or the equivalent of our six largest cities. The Bureau of the Census projects that we will have 364 million by 2030 and over 400 million by 2050 with one-quarter of the population being Hispanic.
The annual arrival of 1.5 million legal and illegal immigrants, coupled with 750,000 annual births to immigrant women, is the determinate factor--or three-fourths-- of all U.S. population growth. These additional people will require infrastructure [roads, water, electricity, gasoline, etc.], and impact our schools, hospitals, social welfare systems, penal system, etc. Couple these increases with an aging US population faced with entitlement programs about to go belly-up in 10 years and you have some serious public policy issues that could threaten the future of this country.
Teddy and Lindsey What a cute couple. Wonder which one is... Nevermind, I don’t want to know.
Cheap labor is a fiction. The average illegal is costing 20,000 per year in social benefits. When they get legal, you can double that.
Taking in your tired, poor and down trodden was feasible in a capitalist country in the 1800’s. We are now a socialist republic, like it or not. They now come here for the handouts.
We did not have welfare and food stamps in the 1800’s.
When you got here, you got a job, not a social worker, section 8 housing and food stamps.
Since when are Lindsey Graham and Ted Kennedy on "opposite ends"? What do they disagree about?
>>Since when are Lindsey Graham and Ted Kennedy on “opposite ends”? What do they disagree about?<<
Clearly shows the MSM’s view of amnesty. Anyone to the “right” of Lindsey is not worthy of mention.
As a resident of the People’s Republic of New Jersey, we take great well deserved derision for being home to politicians of the most leftist and corrupt variety.
But South Carolina is supposed to be some conservative bastion.
Time for the good folks of that state to toss Goober Graham overboard in the next Republican primary.
Maybe he can run Bloomberg and Hagel’s campaign after McCain’s fizzles for good.
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