Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
Illegal immigrants kill thousands of Americans each year though gangs, drunk driving and other illegal activities. Just because it doesn’t happen all in one day, doesn’t mean that those people aren’t just as dead.
Oooooh the drama! I thought that the folks in Arizona were so angered by the illegal immigration issue and they would not be affected by any comments Rove said about Hayworth.
I disagree on that too. They chose sides to satisfy their voting blocs , but the dems, with a couple of “spokespeople” exceptions, hardly play lip service to what their position on Iraq would be if there were a bit of difference. If Al Gore had been elected, we would be in Iraq today also. And he might not have been as damned inept.
“This could actually put Jorge in a class that currently includes Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton as someone who has done serious long term damage to the American Republic.”
No question that this would put him up there. Given their birthrate, the fact that the shamnesty will encourage more to come over the borders, and the fact that as citizens they would be able to bring more family over we are looking at 30 million being 100 million in a couple decades. Given that they don’t want to adopt our culture, that will be a huge blow to the American way of life.
Illegal immigration (and open borders) isn't simply a "law and order isssue." It's a vital national security issue. And if tens of millions of third-worlders whose national allegiance lies elsewhere and who have limited (if any) desire to cuturally integrate are granted amnesty you can say adios to the GOP -- the entire political spectrum will take a significant surge leftward. So yeah, I'd say this issue in general and this amnesty in particular are pretty important. ......worthy of the commentary we've seen today.
This makes me physically ill.
so is a vote for most republicans these days.
Thanks for that info.
Illegal Aliens kill more innocent Americans than 9/11 did. 40k + a year. Check your facts Chaz! Blackbird.
No need to wonder why you’re so popular around here.
You couldn't be more wrong. In a poll of Republican voters asking them to rank the issues most important to them, immigration was first. You apparently are out of the loop.
The details?
Look for that photograph of the guy with the screw going through his mid section.
Maybe not, but it is the end of America as we knew it.
I was listening to John and Ken today while driving my daughter to her activity, and they said two groups had veto power during the negotiations. One was la raza, the other a name which I don’t remember, but are in the same camp.
Why do two pro-illegal mexican groups GET VETO POWER and WE DON’T?
Tom Tancredo has no chance of being in a position to veto anything....he’s un-electable.
For years now I've suspected they are just one in the same.
I suppose it all depends on whose ox is being gored but for me, as a legal immigrant, who played by the rules, waited a very long time and spent a considerable amount of time, effort and money, to be here legally, this is a deal breaker.
Living in Florida, I know we are over run with the illegals. I have been saying for almost 9 years...we are already a 3rd world country. NOW IT IS GOING TO BE OFFICIAL. Everyone under 60 better start learning spanish, NOT!!! This is wrong and most unamerican. We need to do more than fax our congress critters, we need to get in the streets and let it be known we will NOT tolerate this crap any longer.Period!!! Thanks for listening but we need action not just talk. It’s still not too late, the bill has not been passed by the house, YET!
Like every previous immigrant group, they will learn English as well.
LOL. And where do you live? Did you notice that almost everything you buy has information printed in both Spanish and English. Hello? Ever been to Southern California, Texas???
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