Breaking: Immigration Deal Struck in Senate - UPDATED
From the AP:
The key breakthrough came when negotiators struck a bargain on a so- called “point system” that would for the first time prioritize immigrants’ education and skill level over family connections in deciding how to award green cards.
(snip)
The proposed agreement would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a “Z visa” and—after paying fees and a $5,000 fine—ultimately get on track for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. Heads of household would have to return to their home countries first.
They could come forward right away to claim a probationary card that would let them live and work legally in the U.S., but could not begin the path to permanent residency or citizenship until border security improvements and the high-tech worker identification program were completed.
A new temporary guest worker program would also have to wait until those so-called “triggers” had been activated.
Those workers would have to return home after work stints of two years, with little opportunity to gain permanent legal status or ever become U.S. citizens. They could renew their guest worker visas twice, but would be required to leave for a year in between each time.
Democrats had pressed instead for guest workers to be permitted to stay and work indefinitely in the U.S.
UPDATE FROM NY TIMES
Under the proposal, the government would evaluate the qualifications and claims of many people seeking permission to immigrate using a point system.
Family ties would remain an important factor, but would have less weight than they do under current law.
The point system is one element of a comprehensive bill that calls for the biggest changes in immigration law and policy in more than 20 years. The full Senate plans to take up the legislation next week.
Although Democrats now control the Senate, the bill incorporates many ideas advanced in some form by President Bush. A draft of the legislation says that Congress intends to “increase American competitiveness through a merit-based evaluation system for immigrants.”
Moreover, it says, Congress will “reduce chain migration” by limiting the number of visas issued exclusively on account of kinship.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
will you plese help save our country and vote against that god awful bill making all the illegals ,legal.hasn’t the government given away about all our american rights that they can afford to give away.if the government does this,every tax payer in this country should protest by not filing a tax return next year.they should all hit the streets tomorrow in protest.
reta barnes,springdale ,arkansas,72762
May 18th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
We recently moved because my son’s school / area was approaching 60% hispanic… I am tired of pressing English or Spanish buttons at ATM’s and grocery check out lines…I am tired of looking at aisles labeled in English and Spanish at hardware stores, plus other items.. Nothing is ever as good as it seems but somewhere in the middle reality falls… I think the reality is we are seeing the beginning of the end of what we have typically viewed as American Culture..I am against this amnesty program .. I also think this is the end of the Republican Party.
May 18th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
No Amnesty! Aggressive Enforcement! Stronger Border Security!
Thank you for your support!
May 19th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I am not for this amnesty bill.
We need to secure our borders and remove all illegals from this country.
At this time they have more rights than us citizens. Congressmen are neglecting the people they represent all for the mexican vote. I predict that many of the congessmen who vote for this bill will not be relected.
May 20th, 2007 at 9:05 am
I live in Congressman Snyder’s district, and have already written him regarding this horrible immigration bill. I would like to thank you, Congressman Boozman, for alerting us to this, and to encourage you in your efforts to defeat this bill when it comes to a vote in the House. Thank you.
May 20th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
No bill should be put together in the manner this bill was. There were no committee hearings, no open debates, everything was done in some back room without the information being available to the public. Then it was released on a Thursday, basically the weekend, with debate to begin on Monday. Does anyone really think a 900 page bill will be read over the weekend.
Congressman Boozman, please advocate for full, open, fair debate and markup of this bill before passage. Give plenty of time for the presidential candidates to debate this, etc.
Does anyone really think that the Democrats are in a big rush to do something that may benefit Republicans? Come on, that Democrat party died decades ago.
Thank you for hearing my opinion
May 21st, 2007 at 5:48 am
We must not allow for illegal persons to vote or receive benefits. I take care of many elderly that were denied foodstamps and medical benefits that many illegals are receiving. Something is wrong here. Why are we allowing illegal immigrants to obtain medical benefits, foodstampe, free college education, etc. Ane easily denying American citizens these rights. American citizens are paying more for mistakes made in the law books. We must remove these illegal persons (key word here ‘illegals’) secure our nation’s borders and enforce the laws that are already on the books.
Please, please…we are all suffering because of this issue. All that we hold that is America, is being lost on this illegal immigrant issue. Please, listen to your voters. Listen to the majority of legal Americans against any acceptance of illegal immigration.
Thank you.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:32 am
I do not want this bill. It is amnesty in effect. There are no reasons for the people that are here illegally to go back. They get what they want by being here illegally. Breaking the law cannot be a career path in a successful country.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:32 am
Please do the right thing and vote against this.!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:00 am
I will not endorse nor will i vote for anyone who supports the Kennedy/McCain Amnesty Bill.
I am pro-immigration (legal)and consider this bill, not only a slap in the face to Americans, but a slap in the face to those who waited in line to honor America’s laws and people by coming through the system legally.
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 am
Please vote agains’t giving amnesty in any form or under any name to illegals in our country.
Secure the borders, inforce the laws we have now by punishing everyone hiring an illgal person in our country.
The current senate bill is an outrage. Do not support under any circumstance
June 4th, 2007 at 11:27 am
The 1986 Amnesty gave 3 million people offical legal status and 12 to 20 million illegals came to this country as a result.The current bill being debated in the Senate will double the number of legal foreign nationals in the U.S. putting more stress on our already overburdened schools and infrastructure.Also it wil result in more illegal immigration.The Flake-Gutierrez Bill is just as bad as the Senate bill.Please vote against those bills if they come up for vote in the House.Thank you.