Immigration Deal Faces Uncertain Future

(CBS/AP)  The job of patrolling the U.S. border for illegal immigrants is an unrelenting and difficult job. The job of Congressional proponents for immigration reform to sell their new plan is proving to be just as difficult.

A bipartisan immigration deal that would grant legal status to millions of people in the country unlawfully is drawing criticism from across the political spectrum.

The bargain reached between key Democratic and Republican senators and the White House faces an uncertain future in the Senate, which is set to begin debating it Monday.

As CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports, the deal is a big, first step but it is only a first step. The small team of negotiators will now try to sell their plan to the rest of Congress.

"I don't know if the immigration legislation is going to bear fruit and we're going to be able to pass it," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who harbored "serious concerns" about the deal.

Even if it were to survive what's certain to be a searing Senate battle, the measure would be up against long odds in the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., acknowledging deep divisions on immigration among Democrats, says she won't bring it up unless President Bush can guarantee he will produce 70 Republican backers — a tall order given GOP concerns that the bill is too lenient.

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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff tells Bob Orr why the immigration reform package will benefit his department in the war on drugs and terror.

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The agreement, which also mandates tougher border security and workplace enforcement, marked an extraordinary marriage of liberal and conservative goals that has the potential to bridge stubborn divides and ensure enactment of new laws this year.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., his party's lead negotiator on the deal, called it an example of the "politics of the possible," while conservative Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said it was the "best opportunity" for a bipartisan solution to the nation's immigration problems.

It was soon under attack, however, from a set of lawmakers and interest groups as diverse as those that united to craft it. Their varying concerns and competing agendas — along with a challenging political environment — could be enough to unravel the painstakingly written agreement.

"It's a divisive issue, it's an emotional issue," Kennedy admitted on CBS News' The Early Show Friday.

Two of the key players in the talks from each end of the political spectrum, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, walked away from the deal before it was announced.

Conservatives branded it "amnesty," complaining that it would reward the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants with a way of gaining legal status and staying in the U.S. permanently without being punished.

"What part of 'illegal' does the Senate not understand? Any plan that rewards illegal behavior is amnesty," said Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus.

Kennedy dismissed the "amnesty" criticism, saying, "That's sort of a slogan and a cliché."

The deal would allow illegal immigrants to come forward right away, but they could not get visas or begin a path to citizenship until the border security improvements and a high-tech worker identification program were in place.

After that, illegal immigrants could obtain a renewable "Z visa" that would allow them stay in the country indefinitely. After paying fees and fines totaling $5,000, they could 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.

Added late in the negotiations was the Dream Act, reports Attkisson. Immigrants who came illegally as children and are now in college or the military could stay and get a green card in just three years. This would be the fastest path to citizenship.

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[bourbon83]

I don't see any speeder taking billions out of our public funds! They are criminals, and invaders. From running drugs, murder, rape, driving uninsured, unlicensed. When they commit a crime they start playing border ping pong, bouncing to and fro as needed. Others are smuggling these invaders in taking advantage of their own people, raping the girls along the way. Don't bother retorting that Americans are doing criminal acts too. Americans are held accountable under the law when caught, Sadly these invaders are not they conveniently migrate back home, coming back when the heat dies down.
We need to end all reasons for them coming here so they'll migrate back, or treat them like the invaders they are, and lets have a war. Winner take all.

[randalds]

Illegals broke USA laws by entering the country illegally, end of discussion!
Posted by docpeter at 10:13 AM : May 21, 2007

The law they broke is equivalent to a speeding ticket, even the right wing's hero Bush said so and for one of the few times in this lifetime I agree with him. This constantly screaming that they are criminals is an attempt to put them in the same group with murderers and rapists which is just plain ridiculous! They're no more "criminal" then any American who ever drove 5 miles an hour over the speed limit or who rolled through a stop sign when they could see no one was coming. Let's stop with this stupid branding of them as some sort of crime wave members, when they so clearly are not.

[bourbon83]

Just so you know, the definition of invaders is this: Enter a country with hostility, Swarm into, Attack, Enroach upon. Wow that sums it up like it really is. The press need to stop showing the sad,sorry sob stories of how they have dreams, and show the reality. They have done all things invaders do!Rob, Rape & Kill Americans, Turn our flag upside down, and steal from our public treasury. I don't think it's illegal to shoot invaders. Maybe we should look up laws on our rights when it comes to agressive invaders. Would it not be the same as war? We'd probably be within our rights to start treating them as invaders, and sympathetic politicians as treasonist.

[bourbon83]

[rudy]Ah, so you believe in forced labor do you?! Very, very good. So did Hitler! But I digress. Um, actually, I took a part in reviewing the progress of welfare reform that tried to at least implement something of a work incentive to get people off the welfare roles. I even got to go report on it to Congress

Typical liberal leap! I suggest people actually work for their welfare check. OOOOHHHH how awful..That makes me like Hitler. Well Miss Rosie, Those liberal leaps only show how ignorant you are. That would not be forced labor, that would be voluntary labor. Kind of like the rest of us do, every day. We wake up, decide if we want to work, if we don't we get docked, clocked, or fired! Pretty simple... obviously too much for your feeble mind to comprehend. Forced labor would be would be me showing up at your door, clubbing your ***, and making you go round up the invaders and sending them home. Not a bad idea.

[docpeter-2009]

My wife, from China, is here LEGALLY. We went through ALL of the NECESSARY steps for her to be here LEGALLY. We are now in the last steps of bringing her daughter here LEGALLY. This one process has taken four years to complete, but it has all been done LEGALLY. My wife is beginning to prepair for her citizenship testing, etc. My wife's opinion is that illegas, if caught, should be deported instantly. Of course she has done everything legally. I tend to agree with her.

To grant amnesty to people here in the USA ILLEGALLY shouldn't even be considered. They are a drain on the taxpaying citizens. I listened to a talk show the other day where an illegal was crying about not having the $$ to stay here legally. This after she had two children in this country and because she didn't pay a the bill for the hospital she thought it was a free service. She couldn't be convinced that someone paid her hospital bill, and it was us tax payers.

Do I want to see the cheap labor leave? Of course not. Do I want to see American companies sending labor over seas when they can provide jobs here in America? NO. But I do think the employers of illegals should be prosecuted and fined.

Illegals broke USA laws by entering the country illegally, end of discussion!

[michellelyn6]

Peter776, En cual pais viviste? You lived in Latin America, that is fantatic, but you left believing that the citizens wanted to live in poverty??! The conditions you are describing are horrendous, not something people would create because they like to live that way. I understand we cannot invite every single person from these impoverished conditions to the U.S., but the point is many immigrants are here at present, and have been here from 20 to 5 years already and that life you are describing is not even something they can relate to anymore. Like the children who were brought here when they were young--the Dream Act is something they deserve!! They had no choice, but this is the only life they have even known and many have done excellent in school and university, but now cannot get a great job, although they are extremely edcuated. It is not right to send those kids and young adults to a place, that is completely unknown. But if just the parents were to be sent back, that is creating a split family situation---Point being, many people are here and very much apart of society, have proven this is their home, where their life is. It would be wrong to 0break families apart!! Comprehensive Immigration
Reform including the Dream Act must be passed.
Let us all hope that the policy makers today and this week---vote for families and vote to continue the American Tradition of Mulit-culturalism.

[randalds]

Posted by peter776 at 09:39 PM : May 20, 2007

Sounds to me like you ought to go back to Latin America and try getting to know the people there, instead of just taking shots at them for the third world condition they live in as if it's all their fault. Of course the fact that the US has consistently scr*ewed over Latin America wouldn't come into your thoughts now would it? Naw. Sounds more to me like you we're raised a poor little rich boy who went down south after college to salve your conscience and to have someone to look down your elitist nose down on. Or maybe you were down there to put in a few years overseeing daddy's plantation or business before he'd let you start back here in the States. Of course you couldn't be bothered to actually get to know and make friends with any of the people of "that class". You know, the "untouchables", the ones beneath you. Either that our your just a lying piece of sh*it who's making this cr*ap up. Guess I'll have to flip a coin to decide the answer to that one because to people like you there's no real difference anyway now is there? Sleep well.

[peter776-2009]

RandalIDS said: "Actually I'm not Hispanic ..."

Yes -- it all becomes clear now. A white guy who fancies himself educated and a great protector of the downtrodden. Or in other words, an under-educated, misguided, ultra-liberal. I used to be a little like you until I graduated from university and worked and lived in the third world for a number of years, including in Latin America. After that experience, I can tell you that I don't want all streets to have potholes, all telephones not to work, all public places to have mountains of trash strewn about, all police to be corrupt, and power provided to my home or business only four hours a day. That is what this country will become if the illegal immigrant invasion continues. This debate is not only about people being in the country illegally, but also about those same people perpetrating a cultural invasion and assualt upon our fundamental values, and indeed our sovereignty. Who cares if ultra-lefties take issue with the plain facts and try to twist the issue into one of purported "racism." The overwhelming majority of American citizens see right through such phony arguments. That is why Kennedy's legislation will never become law -- too many ordinary citizens are mad as hornets about it and will not let it stand.

[barbaraf4]

Ruby654,

This is straight from the Social Security Website;

"If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social Security must see your current U.S. immigration documents. Acceptable documents from the Department of Homeland Security include your:

* Form I-551 (includes machine-readable immigrant visa with your unexpired foreign passport);
* I-94 with your unexpired foreign passport; or
* Work permit card (I-766 or I-688B)."

If one may register and does register with SSA, they are in the system. Once one is in, they are eligible for benefits.

The link;

And the link is: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10120.html#proof


Also consider the SSA's rules for SSI benefits too.
Once W. signs the new immigration law, the illegals become instantly legal and eligible.

And re-read my earlier post directly from CBS's website please.

Hope that helps.
Posted by lostngone at 10:54 AM : May 20, 2007
~~~~~~~~
An individual is NOT eligible to retire on SS until they have worked 40 quarters (10 years). Disability shouldn't be a problem, because Bush has promised these are a bunch of hardworking people who wouldn't think of becoming disabled.

[randalds]

Just out of curiosity, is it "racist" to chant "Gringos go home!!" while waving foreign flags and demanding that the Southwestern portion of the United States be ethnically cleansed of non-Hispanics?

Is the slogan: "For La Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada" ... "For the race, everything. For those outside the race, nothing." "racist?"



Posted by makeafence at 12:07 PM : May 20, 2007

I've seen a couple of the protests personally here in Los Angeles and never saw what you profess they do. No one there ever advocated and kind of "ethnic cleansing" of the Southwest or any other part of the US and that is not the slogan of La Raza. I suppose it's possible someone may have carried a sign like that (though as I said, I've never seen one), but do not confuse the issue by failing to point out that that is NOT a La Raza slogan.