Bipartisan Immigration Deal Reached

White House Reaches Agreement With Bipartisan Group Of Senators On Overhaul

(CBS/AP)  In a reminder of the delicate nature of the alliance, some lawmakers on both ends of the political spectrum who attended the weeks of closed-door talks that yielded the agreement deserted it at the last moment.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said the proposal "tears families apart" because a new point system used to evaluate future legal immigrants would value family connections well below employment-related criteria.

"When you anchor yourself to the far right and you give, I think, relatively little, it's hard to meet the challenge" of producing a workable bill, Menendez said in an interview.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he had "very serious concerns with the principles outlined" in the agreement.

And conservatives on both sides of the Capitol derided the deal as "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, using a politically charged word that figured prominently in campaigns across the country last year.

"I don't care how you try to spin it, this is amnesty," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.

The proposed agreement would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa" and — after paying fees and a $5,000 fine — ultimately get on track for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. Heads of households would have to return to their home countries first.

They could come forward right away to claim a probationary card that would let them live and work legally in the U.S., but could not begin the path to permanent residency or citizenship until border security improvements and the high-tech worker identification program were completed.

A new crop of low-skilled guest workers would have to return home after stints of two years. They could renew their visas twice, but would be required to leave for a year in between each time. If they wanted to stay in the U.S. permanently, they would have to apply under the point system for a limited pool of green cards.

The program drew fire from liberal groups that said it was unworkable. They had joined Democrats in pressing instead for guest workers to be permitted to stay and work indefinitely in the U.S., and ultimately earn the chance to stay.

"Without a clear path to permanent residence for a healthy share of the future temporary workers, we run the risk of reproducing the widespread illegality that this bill is designed to address," said Frank Sharry, the executive director of the National Immigration Forum.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he would try to kill the temporary worker program because it would bring in a potentially unlimited stream of immigrants to compete with Americans for jobs and depress wages.

In perhaps the most hotly debated change, the proposed plan would shift from an immigration system primarily weighted toward family ties toward one with preferences for people with advanced degrees and sophisticated skills. Republicans have long sought such revisions, which they say are needed to end "chain migration" that harms the economy.

Family connections alone would no longer be enough to qualify for a green card — except for spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens. Strict new limits would apply to U.S. citizens seeking to bring foreign-born parents into the country.

[bblake259]

The way i look at illegal immigration is that they come to america take a job that a teenager may want instead of bugging the *** out of there parents for money then these immigrants finally go to school make it harder for americans to learn. Then u have more immigrants who come over here and sell drugs and commit crimes and make our taxes go up because we have to feed there ***'s. Now you have Borter Patrol agents going to jail because of shooting at immigrants that were attempting to kill them while trying to get over the border.. I mean come on we seriosly need to do better than make a law allowing more immigrants to come here.

[kcstan11]

I support imigration the way that it was in the Ellis Island days ... NOT this junk ...

If they want to stop the ********, it is very simple ...

Plant millions of land mines about every 2-3 feet along the first 50 feet of the whole Mexican border and sit back and watch the fireworks at night ... imigration problem solved ...

[hamiltongrad]

You have to allow the law abiding good stay here, and kick out the bad.
What is disturbing is the fact tht it allows 400,000 new immigrants a year to get in. We have enough already, and need to assimmilate what we have, which is in ten of millions.
Job number one get a border fence. Get Federal ID cards and make all jobs require.
If we jump ahead of ourselves we will accomplish nothing.

[gaye5]

coffeehead, I have read that happy, healthy families are not conducive to world control, and what stands in the way of world control even more is, happy health religious families ... some say it is just another conspiracy theory. Well if it is just another theory, then we can only wonder as to why all these things which are in these conspiracies are happening world wide???... strange that eh..
Although smacking has been there since the beginning of time, parents are now being made to feel guilty for smacking their children as authorities tell them that it is brutality. I wonder why crime rates used to be at a very low number, and people used to be more secure. A lack of discipline in the home has caused a world where children do not learning self control and the most horrific crimes are now emerging at a rate that is horrifying..They see it on TV and go and act it out..
Why is it that most of these things have been introduced under left winged governments?? Is it perhaps because they are socialist, and from what I have read of left winged policies, it appears that all leaders of socialist/communist countries back all these things above and say that they will introduce them in the countries that they govern
We are now made to believe that what was once right is now wrong and what was wrong is now right... .. Is world control seems closer than we think.??. I would love to hear what others have read or heard..

[gaye5]

coffeehead, I have read much of this before, that if you mix up the races people loose their identity and are then easier to control.
I have read that they would make it so as people dont own anything, that they would destroy the family unit, make it so as the governments control child rearing, destroy their belief in God, make mums feel that unless they are at work that they are worth nothing, thus they dump their kids in day care centers, destroy the norms for morality, bring in gay marriages and homosexuality as normal, easy divorce, make abortion just a minor procedure, then add this to governments world wide bringing in human rights which takes away the rights of the majority, and discrimination which discriminates against the majority, etc etc, and you have control of the masses... then last but not least just as Hitler did, confiscate the guns of the people so as they cannot protect themselves, under the guise of tooo much violence in the world...all this and more, making it easier to manipulate and control..

[rhs648]

The whole issue of illegal immigration is that it is illegal. When someone sneaks into America, it is a violation of our laws. Speeders may never kill anyone. They are still violating the law. For most Americans, illegal immigration has little to do whether these people speak English, are of fine character, will work hard, take jobs other Americans don't want, etc. To most Americans, it is merely disdain for anyone who enters America illegally.

[jax3rd]

Gee, Sen. Teddy likes it, so it must be in the country's best interest. He IS an honorable man . . . so are they all, all honorable men. And the farmer hauled another load away . . . we here in Texas can tell it isn't hay.

[kcstan11]

daniel12347:

that only shows how ignorant a person could be....some of the people that live here without papers deserve an opportunity..not all of them are bad...some of them are more American than anything else..it's been proven...some of them pay taxes..some of them are SKILLED workers...some of them can contribute to our society... They should give the opportunity to people that have no criminal record and that live in this country for more than 4 years..lets say

---------

SOME of them this, SOME of them that ... just plain sucks ....

If they were DUMB enough the cross the boarder illegally then they are ALL dumb enough to be DEPORTED ...

[mikealford3]

....some of the people that live here without papers deserve an opportunity..not all of them are bad...some of them are more American than anything else..it's been proven...some of them pay taxes..some of them are SKILLED workers...some of them can contribute to our society... They should give the opportunity to people that have no criminal record and that live in this country for more than 4 years..lets say

Posted by Daniel12347 at 03:53 PM : May 18, 2007

1. Any immigrant without "papers"/proper documentation, does NOT deserve anything, he/she is breaking the law.

2. "Some" of them are more American, So why reward all of them?

3. "Some" of them pay taxes. Again why reward all of them?

4. "Some" of them are skilled and "some" "can" contribute to our society. Again, why reward all of them?

You still don't understand that this whole thing is rewarding people for breaking the law.

[daniel12347]

I support imigration the way that it was in the Ellis Island days ... NOT this junk ...

If they want to stop the ********, it is very easy ...

Plant millions of land mines about evry 2-3 feet along the first 50 feet of the Mexican border and sit back and watch the fireworks at night ... imigration problem solved ...


..that only shows how ignorant a person could be....some of the people that live here without papers deserve an opportunity..not all of them are bad...some of them are more American than anything else..it's been proven...some of them pay taxes..some of them are SKILLED workers...some of them can contribute to our society... They should give the opportunity to people that have no criminal record and that live in this country for more than 4 years..lets say

[mikealford3]

I am yet amazed once more. I just read a report that people in Mexico are upset and angry over the U.S.'s new policy on immigration. The mexicans argue that the new law does not allow enough mexicans in and gives preference to the more educated and skilled workers.

Yet another example of people feeling entitled to something. Since when does it matter what the Mexican people think about the laws in the United States?

We're running the country into the sewer, so we just as well give it to the sewer rats.

[kcstan11]

I support imigration the way that it was in the Ellis Island days ... NOT this junk ...

If they want to stop the ********, it is very easy ...

Plant millions of land mines about evry 2-3 feet along the first 50 feet of the Mexican border and sit back and watch the fireworks at night ... imigration problem solved ...

[rhs648]

The above extract was printed from the Banker's Manifest, for private circulation among leading bankers only.

Posted by coffeehead

The Bankers Manifest dates back to @ 1934 and is somewhat dated.

[highthis]

Congress needs to see this bill for the immgrants, but do they want ciztenship in this country or use the system that they have already. They need to change there ways and see how many want to stay and don't want to and deal with the langugue of there. Let them learn Engilsh and have them speak it. We do not need people talking in there own languge, but we would, if they learn our languge. Keep our borders tight, but have people come in. You can come in, but in the right way. We love differnt people from other country's. We don't hate you, we only hate illgals that take the government that we love the most. Let's open to them and teach them everything about living here and give them a good eduction for them. We want you for it and for ever that how long you want to stay. We are the country to have people free for a reason and that why you want to be here. Let's be togather for a reason and keep our reason we made the country we want it. That's why we would start for everyone to be free. have one land to be free and stay free for centurys to be for every one. Thank you......

[highthis]

Congress needs to see this bill for the immgrants, but do they want ciztenship in this country or use the system that they have already. They need to change there ways and see how many want to stay and don't want to and deal with the langugue of there. Let them learn Engilsh and have them speak it. We do not need people talking in there own languge, but we would, if they learn our languge. Keep our borders tight, but have people come in. You can come in, but in the right way. We love differnt people from other country's. We don't hate you, we only hate illgals that take the government that we love the most. Let's open to them and teach them everything about living here and give them a good eduction for them. We want you for it and for ever that how long you want to stay. We are the country to have people free for a reason and that why you want to be here. Let's be togather for a reason and keep our reason we made the country we want it. That's why we would start for everyone to be free. have one land to be free and stay free for centurys to be for every one. Thank you......

[nottellin1]

If it weren%u2019t for the legalization of all the undesirable, non Hispanic illegal aliens that this bill will allow to stay, maybe it%u2019s OK. In 10 years, all non-Hispanic Americans will be the minority. Do you think then that we will get all the free services that other minorities enjoy now? Oh yeah. Probably not because all these new citizens do not come from countries with social programs.

[mikealford3]

According to Mario Obeldo, former head of MALDEF, ''California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who does not like it should leave.''

That sounds like a threat of invasion. That's like someone coming into your home, claiming it as theirs and telling you to leave. What would happen if Korea made the statement, or Cuba said Florida will soon be a Cuban territory? Forget Mexico, suppose 10,000 Haitians show up in Miami and claim they have rights to be here?

Suppose Hugo Chavez said, California is going to be taken over by Venezuela and if you don't like it leave? Would people think differently?

[minminmin-2009]

According to Mario Obeldo, former head of MALDEF, ''California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who does not like it should leave.''

Posted by coffeehead at 06:55 AM : May 18, 2007

I have to agree with Mario. I live in California. Go stand on any corner in any California town. Hang out at WalMart for 20 minutes. I grew up in So. Cal. I went to school with lots and lots of Mexicans. Now there's more. You're implying that Mario had something to do with it? I don't think so. It's just happening and he's observing it.

[minminmin-2009]

Coffeehead -
Barbara Marx Hubbard?? Please. I suppose the New World Order includes space colonization, too. She said a lot of wacky stuff...almost all of which turned to vapor.

[minminmin-2009]

Coffeehead -
Barbara Marx Hubbard?? Please. I suppose the New World Order includes space colonization, too. She said a lot of wacky stuff...almost all of which turned to vapor.