Senators strike a deal on immigration overhaul.

[Cleita]

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWAT00751720070517

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators reached agreement on Thursday on an immigration reform bill that would legalize millions of illegal immigrants and establish a merit-based system for future migrants, lawmakers said.

The agreement sets the stage for what is expected to be a passionate Senate debate over immigration and lead the way for what would be one of the most significant accomplishments of President George W. Bush's final term.

Details of the agreement were set to be released at a news conference the group scheduled for 1:30 p.m (1730 GMT). Negotiators, led by Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican, worked out the final details on Thursday morning.

More at link.

[EFerrari]

1. Immigrant Rights Groups Condemn New Senate Proposal to Overhaul Nation's Immigration Laws

A bipartisan group of senators has proposed sweeping changes to the nation's immigration laws. The bill calls for increased security on the U.S.-Mexican border, the hiring of 18,000 more Border agents and new requirements for employers to check the immigration status of employees. The bill would allow undocumented immigrants to continue to work here if they fulfill a number of requirements, including paying a $5,000 fine and getting a biometric identification card. The bill would also set up a point system to determine who merits a new type of visa. The Senate proposal would also allow up to 600,000 temporary workers to come to the United States each year.

Democratic leaders are calling the bill a compromise reached under difficult political circumstances. Several Republicans – including President Bush – have voiced support for the measure. However, many immigrant rights advocates are expressing concern. Some say the proposal would create a permanent underclass of immigrant workers. We are joined now by Stan Mark. He is Program Director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/05/18/1429231

I feel worried about this bill after listening to Amy's reporting this morning.

[Cleita]

2. Right now it sucks and it won't solve the problem.

They are trying to resurrect an updated version of the amnesty of 1996 (I think it was 1996) which was supposed to stop illegal immigration after giving legal status to the immigrants already here. Well, that went well didn't it?

It doesn't address the root problem of the corrupt governments in Latin America not taking care of their workers at home to keep them there. This is not a good solution IMHO.

[EFerrari]

3. Not to mention, our government subverts elections in Latin America.

:(

I do feel worried that workers are being constructed as units and not as members of families.

Isn't that the opposite of what makes a society functional?

[Cleita]

4. I wish I knew how we could get our government to stop

what they do there. Too many Americans though look the other way because they benefit from the exploitation of those countries and their people.

[Lost-in-FL]

5. This is very bad...

It seems that our current Congress is in a hurry to pass more bills than the republicans did and aren't thinking things through. This bill will only favor the rich in both sides of the fence (no pun intended). It will just create more hatred against immigrants.

[EFerrari]

6. This is going to be a game of chicken between BushCo

and Congressional Democrats -- or maybe, one sortie in a bigger game of chicken.

And meanwhile, ICE is making sweeps. One thing for sure, we have to register Latino voters and protect their votes. I don't see any other way to make this negotiation humane.

There is a poster that has "Liberty and justice for all" in a sig line and who is arguing for exclusion at the same time. It makes my head hurt. :(

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. How can workers afford five thousand dollars?

I have a hardworking family next door. Great family...both parents work two jobs and the kids are taken care of by the grandmother. There is just no way they can come up with 20 thousand dollars (one of the kids is a citizen).

It seems like this is great news...if you aren't poor.

I don't see how it will help things in the long run though

[Cleita]

8. These are the same genuises who promote health savings

accounts and credits. If you don't pay enough income tax to get a credit for your health care you are up the creek. Sick people who are probably not making an income if they have a chronic disease and poor people who don't pay high taxes must pay out of pocket as usual.

This is the thinking of people to whom $5,000 is petty cash unless it might be used to benefit someone else and then they start screaming about welfare queens and such.

[EFerrari]

9. The same geniuses who can't go to a grocery store and buy

food for a week with $21.00 like people on food stamps are forced to do.