Senate bill proposes broad illegal alien amnesty
By Charles Hurt
The Washington Times
April 3, 2006
www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20060403-100749-6769r
WASHINGTON -- The immigration bill now under consideration in the Senate would grant even a broader amnesty to illegal aliens than similar legislation did in 1986, conservatives say, and would make hundreds of thousands of illegal residents eligible for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.
   
   "It should be called 'No Illegal Alien Left Behind,' " said Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican.
   
   In 1986, Congress granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegal aliens. Current legislation would allow an estimated 11 million illegal aliens to continue working in the U.S. while applying for full citizenship.
   
   Backers of the current legislation say it's not amnesty because the illegals would be fined $2,000. But opponents say it is amnesty because the illegals won't be sent home as required under current federal law.
   
   It is "in every sense of what people mean by amnesty," Mr. Sessions said. "If it is not amnesty, it is the same thing as amnesty."
   
   Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat and primary author of the bill, defends the program.
   
   "All undocumented immigrants deserve this chance," he said. "But only those who pay the stiff fines, work for six years, pay their taxes, learn English and pass a civics test will be permitted to remain in the United States."
   
   When the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the proposal last week, many were still not clear about its details because it was still largely made up of oral agreements. But once the 471-page bill was produced and distributed late last week, conservatives were alarmed by some of the provisions.
   
   None so much as the proposal to make illegal aliens eligible for in-state tuition costs.
   
   "This means that while American citizens from Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Massachusetts have to pay out-of-state tuition rates if they send their kids to the University of Virginia or the University of Alabama, people who have illegally immigrated into the country do not," Mr. Sessions said. "How much sense does that make, to have people here illegally and they have more benefits than those who are here legally?"
   
   In 2000, 126,000 illegal aliens were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, according to figures published by the Congressional Research Service. It's not clear how many would be eligible for in-state tuition rates if the current proposal became law.
   
   Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he expects a final Senate floor vote on immigration legislation this week.
   
   For years, Democrats and Republicans such as Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah have pursued legislation that would enable illegals to get in-state tuition rates, which can be as little as one-third of what out-of-state students pay. While past proposals have made little headway, this one was added to the current bill last week after just minutes of debate.
   
   "It will free eligible students from the constant fear of deportation," said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. "We hope to extend Hispanic young people greater educational opportunities, so they may realize the American dream and achieve their potential."
   
   But voters, even in liberal states such as Massachusetts, overwhelmingly oppose providing in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens. Earlier this year, the Massachusetts legislature was poised to approve such a measure. But after a statewide groundswell of opposition from both Democrats and Republicans, the state House voted it down by a 96-57 vote.
   
   The bill in the Senate, Mr. Session said, also would make illegals eligible for financial aid.
   
   Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, said the financial-aid provision was stripped out, but defended the larger proposal. "We are not a country that punishes children for the mistakes of their parents," he said.
   
   Mr. Sessions and other conservative Republicans spent much of last week denouncing the Senate proposal while emphasizing their support for legal immigration.
   
   But in a column posted yesterday on OpinionJournal.com, White House ally Ed Gillespie dismissed their approach as "populist" and suggested those Republicans oppose even legal immigrants and immigration.
   
   "The Republican Party cannot become an anti-immigration party," Mr. Gillespie warned his fellow Republicans. "Our majority already rests too heavily on white voters, given that current demographic voting percentages will not allow us to hold our majority in the future."

i say no problem, give them a 6 year probationary period, let them learn english, pass a civics test, and become citizens - AFTER being sent back to their home country and comming into this country legally.

because as soon as this amnesty passes, how many illegals are going to "come out of the shadows" in the first place?  the $2k fine is $2k they can't send back to meh-he-co, so they'll continue to work illegally

Quoted:        "The Republican Party cannot become an anti-immigration party," Mr. Gillespie warned his fellow Republicans. "Our majority already rests too heavily on white voters, given that current demographic voting percentages will not allow us to hold our majority in the future."

That is the only thing they care about...right there.

Quoted: i say no problem, give them a 6 year probationary period, let them learn english, pass a civics test, and become citizens - AFTER being sent back to their home country and comming into this country legally.

+1

Quoted: Quoted:        "The Republican Party cannot become an anti-immigration party," Mr. Gillespie warned his fellow Republicans. "Our majority already rests too heavily on white voters, given that current demographic voting percentages will not allow us to hold our majority in the future." That is the only thing they care about...right there.

Jeebuz H! That guy needs a good swift kick in the ballot box.

Just read a headline today that McCain is saying amnesty is dead.

I hear they pay $8,000 to get in, why should we settle for less?

Quoted: Quoted:        "The Republican Party cannot become an anti-immigration party," Mr. Gillespie warned his fellow Republicans. "Our majority already rests too heavily on white voters, given that current demographic voting percentages will not allow us to hold our majority in the future." That is the only thing they care about...right there.

Yup.  We've been sold out.


-K

Quoted: Just read a headline today that McCain is saying amnesty is dead.

Link

It's not dead, not by a long shot.

So it's up to US to keep the pressure on the House and Senate!




EMAIL YOUR SENATORS TODAY!  

AND THEN CALL THEM!

AND CALL THEM AGAIN TOMORROW!

AND AGAIN THE NEXT DAY!

AND THE NEXT!!!!


Remember that Senators (yes even McCain) got their ears chewed off by us over the AWB extension - and McCain even REVERSED HIS POSITION on it overnight and voted against the extension!

They CAN be swayed by public pressure - but right now the only pressure they're seeing is from the fucking AZTLANERS marching in the streets waving Mexican flags and defying the rule of law!

GET OFF YOUR ASS, GET IN YOUR SENATORS & CONGRESSCRITTERS EAR AND MAKE A LOT OF NOISE!!!



US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Locate And Contact YOUR Representative HERE.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: Congressman John Boehner, R-OH

US SENATE: Locate And Contact YOUR Senators HERE.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Sen. Bill Frist, R-TN
DC  (202)224-3344
TN  (615)352-9411


THIS IS YOUR NATION THESE PEOPLE ARE GIVING AWAY!!!


Stand up for the rule of law!  

Do NOT reward law-breakers while HONEST immigrants follow the rules, pass the medical tests, pay their dues and wait patiently for years for the PRIVILEGE to work here!

Do NOT fall for the big lie that Americans won't work basic-skill jobs!

Americans DID all these jobs before there were 15 million illegal aliens working for sub-minimum wage!

Illegal immigrants AND the employers that hire them are keeping wages for these jobs too low and THAT is a crime against ALL low-income Americans and HONEST immigrants!

Defend our borders and punish law-breakers - both illegal immigrants AND those that hire them!


We are a nation that follows the rule of law, not the will of screaming law-breakers who march under another nation's flag!

I see that you changed your sigline back(great post)

Anybody check out this month's SWAT?

Quoted: Anybody check out this month's SWAT?

Spill it

Actually... the Republican party was originally created in part by people from the "American Party" aka the "Know Nothing's."  And they WERE anti-immigrant.

The other big wing of the Republican Party was made up of Freesoilers... people who opposed slavery in the west because free labor competition could not compete.


How ironic.

And 2 grand is nothing.  It costs WAY WAY more than that to emigrate to this country the LEGAL way.  

Maybe pandering to illegals will get them more votes in the long run.  I don't know.  I do know that they will lose MY vote THIS November if they do this.

Quoted: Quoted:        "The Republican Party cannot become an anti-immigration party," Mr. Gillespie warned his fellow Republicans. "Our majority already rests too heavily on white voters, given that current demographic voting percentages will not allow us to hold our majority in the future." That is the only thing they care about...right there.

Yet if all theese illegals get voting rights, republicans will never hold a majority again. Can't theese idiots see that they will lose FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR more votes (in percentage) than they will gain from supporting illegals. There has to be a break down of political parties with theese guys and it is probably like 95% demacrat.

How many blazillions of dollars is it going to cost to fund this new gooberment bureaucracy to handle the paperwork and make sure they actually learn spanglish and pay the fine, give them papers,  etc ?????  Send them home, it will be cheaper on all counts.

rj

Quoted: How many blazillions of dollars is it going to cost to fund this new gooberment bureaucracy to handle the paperwork and make sure they actually learn spanglish and pay the fine, give them papers,  etc ?????  Send them home, it will be cheaper on all counts. rj

Good point, it would be cheaper to deport them.............waaaaaay cheaper

Quoted: How many blazillions of dollars is it going to cost to fund this new gooberment bureaucracy to handle the paperwork and make sure they actually learn spanglish and pay the fine, give them papers,  etc ?????  Send them home, it will be cheaper on all counts. rj

This way, the current administration can claim there were fewer claims for unemployment.