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Republicans revise legislation about illegal immigration |
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Written by Xiuhcoatl
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Apr 05, 2006 at 10:12 PM |
Republicans revise legislation aimed at granted eventual citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent
Source: Fox 11 News
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republicans unveiled revised immigration
legislation Wednesday night clearing the way for legal status and
eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million men, women
and children living in the United States unlawfully.
Majority Leader Bill Frist outlined the proposal after efforts at a
bipartisan compromise faltered earlier in the day and the Senate
teetered between accomplishment and gridlock on the most sweeping
immigration bill in two decades.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid pledged to review the GOP proposal
overnight to see whether "it could be something we could all support."
The prospects appeared uncertain, however, since the provisions
appeared similar to what he and other Democrats had earlier spurned.
The fate of the 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally
hinged on the outcome of election-year maneuvering on an issue that
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said had generated an unusual amount of
emotion.
Three thousand miles distant from the Capitol, Cardinal Roger Mahony
asked Catholics to pray the Senate passes legislation allowing illegal
immigrants to gain citizenship. The Los Angeles-based prelate said the
debate marked "one of the most critical weeks in the history of our
country."
Republican officials said the GOP plan would divide illegal immigrants into three categories:
-- Those who had been in the country the longest, more than five years,
would not be required to return to their home country before gaining
legal status. They would be subject to several tests, including the
payment of fines and back taxes, and be required to submit to a
background check, according to these officials.
-- Illegal immigrants in the United States less than five years but
more than two would be required to go to a border point of entry,
briefly leave and then be readmitted to the United States. As with the
longer-term illegal, other steps would be required, these officials
said.
-- Illegal immigrants in the United States less than two years would be
required to leave the country and join any other foreign residents
seeking legal entry. The officials who described the proposal did so on
condition of anonymity, saying the had not been authorized to pre-empt
senators.
There was no immediate reaction from the White House, although
President Bush has repeatedly called for a comprehensive bill that
included steps to deal with those living illegally in the country.
Frist's move cleared the way for a series of test votes over the next day or two of rival proposals.
The first showdown was set for Thursday, on an attempt by Reid and
other Democrats to advance legislation that cleared the Senate
Judiciary Committee more than a week ago. While a bipartisan majority
supported the bill, it quickly ran into trouble from conservative
Republicans, some of whom said it would bestow amnesty on lawbreakers.
"This is a vote that for millions of Americans is a question about
whose side you're on," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the
second-ranking Democrat, adding that unless legislation clears the
Senate this week, it may be doomed for the year.
But it appeared destined to gain far fewer than the 60 votes needed to
advance, and perhaps less than a majority that would give political
bragging rights to Reid in the event the effort to pass legislation
eventually collapses.
Nor was it clear that Frist would be able to muster 60 votes for his
revised legislation. In addition to Democratic critics, he faced
potential defections from some in his own party.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas issued a statement late Wednesday that
avoided taking a position on the proposal. It said he remains "adamant
that we not repeat the mistakes of the 1986 bill, a measure widely
viewed as having imposed amnesty on those in the country illegally.
In general, both of the major alternatives would strengthen border
security, regulate the flow of future foreign workers and open the way
to citizenship for many immigrants who are in the country illegally.
As they have for days, Democrats used their rights on the Senate floor to prevent votes on politically difficult amendments.
Republicans criticized them but were unable to thwart the strategy.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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