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Please, Lord, let it happen soon.<br><br>keely<br><br>> From: thansen@moscow.com<br>> To: vision2020@moscow.com<br>> Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 07:05:32 -0700<br>> Subject: [Vision2020] Immigration Breakthrough Could Pave Way for Citizenship<br>> <br>> >From CNN.com -<br>> <br>> ----------------------------------------------------------------<br>> <br>> Immigration breakthrough could pave way for citizenship<br>> <br>> WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living<br>> in the United States could be put on the path to citizenship under a new<br>> immigration bill agreed upon Thursday by a bipartisan group of senators.<br>> <br>> "The agreement we just reached is the best possible chance we will have to<br>> secure our borders, bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the<br>> sunshine of America," Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said. <br>> <br>> President Bush expressed gratitude to the senators for their work. (Watch<br>> the balancing act politicians face from population changes and a backlash )<br>> <br>> "I really am anxious to sign a comprehensive immigration bill as soon as I<br>> possibly can," he told reporters outside the White House. "Today, we took a<br>> good step toward this direction."<br>> <br>> The bill is going to the Senate next week and if it passes, will then<br>> proceed to the House.<br>> <br>> House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told the White House that she's not going to<br>> bring the issue to the floor unless the president can deliver at least 70<br>> votes.<br>> <br>> But Republican Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the bill is not a done deal.<br>> <br>> He said he has "concerns with the principles outlined in today's<br>> announcement." <br>> <br>> "I believe today's announcement is somewhat premature because specific<br>> legislative text has yet to be drafted on a number of key details," Cornyn<br>> said in a statement. "Until I have the opportunity to review this text, I<br>> will withhold from making more detailed comments." <br>> <br>> The 380-page bill, which comes after nearly three months of negotiations,<br>> would give immediate work authorization to undocumented workers who arrived<br>> in the United States before January 1, 2007.<br>> <br>> Heads of household would have to return to their home country within eight<br>> years, and they would be guaranteed the right to return.<br>> <br>> Applicants would also have to pay a $5,000 penalty.<br>> <br>> Additionally, the number of Border Patrol agents would be doubled, border<br>> fencing would be strengthened and employers who hire undocumented workers<br>> would face fines. <br>> <br>> The process of enforcing those provisions would take about 18 months,<br>> according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.<br>> <br>> After the provisions are in place, a guest-worker program would be<br>> initiated, under which 400,000 temporary workers per year would be granted a<br>> "Y" visa. <br>> <br>> The two-year visas would require they return home for a year, then allow<br>> them to re-enter for an additional two-years. The process could be repeated<br>> twice more.<br>> <br>> Each year, they would be able to bring their families on 30-day visitor<br>> visas, and each year, they would earn points toward a merit-based green<br>> card.<br>> <br>> Specter: This is not amnesty<br>> <br>> "It is not amnesty," said Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.<br>> "This will restore the rule of law."<br>> <br>> Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona called the bill "a first step, but an<br>> important first step, to moving forward with comprehensive overall<br>> immigration reform."<br>> <br>> "I'm sure that there are certain provisions that each of us would not agree<br>> with, but this is what the legislative process is all about," said<br>> Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia. (Watch senators explain how the<br>> bill works )<br>> <br>> Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, acknowledged that not<br>> everyone will be pleased with the bill's treatment of the immigration issue.<br>> <br>> "To the American people, I would say, 'Don't let the perfect be the enemy of<br>> the good,' " she said.<br>> <br>> She said the bill would ensure that border security is strong and that<br>> farmers -- who depend largely on an undocumented work force -- will be able<br>> to find workers.<br>> <br>> "From my perspective, it's not perfect, but it represents the best<br>> opportunity that we have, in a bipartisan way, to do something about this<br>> problem," said Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona.<br>> <br>> Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said the bill started out<br>> being about how to deal with illegal immigration "and wound up being about<br>> what it means to be an American ... I think we've got a deal that reflects<br>> who we are as Americans."<br>> <br>> He added, "From the Ph.D. to the landscaper, there's a chance for you to<br>> participate in the American dream on our terms in a way that makes this<br>> country better."<br>> <br>> Graham predicted the bill would find "overwhelming" support among lawmakers.<br>> <br>> Debate on the bill is slated to get under way in the Senate on Monday, and<br>> Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said she wants passage of a bill before<br>> August. <br>> <br>> Bush: Immigration a tough issue for a lot of Americans<br>> <br>> Bush described immigration as "a tough issue for a lot of Americans," but<br>> added, "The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our<br>> borders but, equally importantly, it will treat people with respect. <br>> <br>> "This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated<br>> without amnesty but without animosity." (Watch Bush praise bipartisanship of<br>> senators) <br>> <br>> That view was challenged by Republican Rep. Brian Bilbray of California,<br>> chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus.<br>> <br>> "The 'compromise' announced today by Sen. Kennedy will reward 12 million<br>> illegal immigrants with a path to citizenship -- what part of illegal does<br>> the Senate not understand?" he said in a written statement.<br>> <br>> "Any plan that rewards illegal behavior is amnesty."<br>> <br>> The American Immigration Lawyers Association decried the proposal as<br>> "large-scale social experimentation," singling out the "guest worker"<br>> program as one that would preclude a path to permanent residence for new<br>> temporary workers.<br>> <br>> "A practical solution for the undocumented population is an enormously<br>> important step in the right direction," the association said in a written<br>> statement. "But the cost of fixing our current problems cannot be the<br>> creation of bigger problems in the future."<br>> <br>> But Chertoff told CNN that the bill would help him better focus his<br>> resources.<br>> <br>> "Right now, I've got my Border Patrol agents and my immigration agents<br>> chasing maids and landscapers. I want them to focus on drug dealers and<br>> terrorists. It seems to me, if I can get the maids and landscapers into a<br>> regulated system and focus my law enforcement on the terrorists and the drug<br>> dealers, that's how I get a safe border."<br>> <br>> ----------------------------------------------------------------<br>> <br>> Seeya rouind town, Moscow.<br>> <br>> Tom Hansen<br>> Moscow, Idaho<br>> <br>> "Uh, how about a 1-strike law. Death doesn't seem too extreme for a Level-3<br>> sex offender."<br>> <br>> - Dale "Comb-Over" Courtney (August 3, 2005)<br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> =======================================================<br>> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>> http://www.fsr.net <br>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> =======================================================<br><br /><hr />Change is good. See what's different about Windows Live Hotmail. <a href='www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/default.html?locale=en-us&ocid=RMT_TAGLM_HMWL_reten_changegood_0507' target='_new'>Check it out!</a></body>
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