Here's an article from the Denver Post about the immigration legislation winding it's way through the U.S. Congress. They write, "The Senate Judiciary Committee approved an immigration-reform package Monday that would allow an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants to stay in the country and seek citizenship. On a day filled with protests by immigrant-rights activists across the country, senators by a 12-6 vote approved the bill, which also would create a guest- worker program for immigrants. On the enforcement side, the legislation calls for doubling the Border Patrol in five years and adding surveillance measures at the U.S.-Mexico line...
"Colorado's Rep. Tom Tancredo, leader of the House's Republican group that opposes any legalization of illegal immigrants, predicted the Senate committee bill would crash full force into the House's bill [HR 4437], which passed late last year...
"The most impassioned speeches came at the end of the day when senators debated how to handle millions of illegal immigrants already living in the U.S. Many immigrants have established homes and families here, and "they don't know where to go" if they were forced to leave the country, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said. 'We have allowed that home to be established,' he added. But Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., complained that the bill would allow those in the country illegally to jump in line for citizenship in front of those who didn't break the law and applied from their home country, often waiting years to gain entry...
"Under the measure, guest workers could stay six years, then could renew for six more years but would have to leave the country first - though briefly - to do so. They could apply for permanent residency if they have an immediate relative who is a resident, are self-employed, for humanitarian reasons, are students who grew up in the U.S., or have been an immigrant in the U.S. more than 10 years who can show hardship...
"What the immigration bill would do: Allow 1.5 million foreigners to hold agricultural jobs for five years; Create a guest-worker program for 400,000 low-skilled immigrant laborers who could stay up to six years; Let illegal immigrants in the U.S. apply for permanent residency and citizenship after paying $2,000 and meeting other conditions; Shield churches and charities that help illegal immigrants from prosecution; More than double the number of Border Patrol agents; Authorize a 'virtual wall' of unmanned vehicles, cameras and censors to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border."
Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News.
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
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