Immigration Debate Update: Frist Compromise Not A Compromise...It's Still Amnesty
04/06/2006
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The immigration bill produced by the Judiciary Committee was said to be a "compromise" bill with "bi-partisan" support.

One tiny flaw: It provided amnesty to nearly all 12 million illegal aliens living in the U.S. today.

I suppose the Judiciary Committee didn't see it coming but a few people objected to the idea of rewarding lawbreakers with citizenship...clearly the xemophobes and racists, right?

For the better part of this past week, Senate Republicans have tried to amend the bill and Democrats have refused hearing them—a filibuster ensued and this morning, Democrats called for cloture on the bill.

The motion failed 39 to 60.

(Cloture would have ended debate and allowed the bill to be brought to the floor for vote.)

Senators Martinez (R-Florida) and Hagel (D-) are off the floor working on a compromise bill—Majority Leader Senator Frist (R-TN) held a press conference this morning in which he announced a compromise bill had been drafted last night.

I wish this was a good thing...I mean, the death of the Judiciary bill is fantastic but so far, the Frist compromise is not that much better.

Here's a breakdown:

  • Those who have lived in the country at least five years would be put on a path toward guaranteed citizenship, provided that they remained employed, paid fines and back taxes, and learned English. According to Senator Frist, 60 percent of the illegal aliens fall into this category.
  • Those who have lived here for two to five years would have to leave the country before reporting to an American port of entry, where they would be classified as temporary workers. There are roughly three million in this category. They are allowed to apply for citizenship but if they are denied, they must leave after six years.
  • The remaining one million (roughly), those who have lived in the country less than two years, would be required to leave although they are eligible to apply for a temporary work Visa.

I have a question: Where are the ones who will be leaving and where are the bill provisions they state how and when they will be deported??

Hmm...apparently, there are none.

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