The U.S. Senate passed their immigration bill 62-36 yesterday, according to the AP via the Rocky Mountain News. Here's the link to the story. They write, "Senators are challenging House Republicans to give ground on their enforcement-only fix for the country's immigration problems and consider offering citizenship to millions of immigrants illegally in the U.S. Senate passage of its immigration bill by a 62-36 vote on Thursday sets up a confrontation with the House, where many lawmakers equate the citizenship offer with amnesty...
"Politics has been an undercurrent as the Senate has tried to write legislation that would satisfy unions, immigration hawks, businesses and advocates for Latinos, and other interests. Several leaders involved in the debate, including Frist and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are considering 2008 presidential runs. Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the electorate. Thousands, including some illegal immigrants, joined street protests to denounce the House bill and call for broader legislation...
"The House bill, which passed on a largely party-line vote last year, is generally limited to border enforcement. It would make all illegal immigrants subject to felony charges. It has no provision for either a new temporary worker program or citizenship for men, women and children unlawfully in the country.
"The Senate bill, in contrast, would mark the most far-reaching changes in two decades by: Urging the hiring of 1,000 more Border Patrol agents this year and 14,000 by 2011; Endorsing Bush's plan for a short-term deployment of National Guard troops to states along the border with Mexico; Calling for the construction of 370 miles of fencing on the border; The guest worker program would admit 200,000 individuals a year - they eventually could apply for a green card, which confers legal permanent residency; A separate program envisions admission of an estimated 1.5 million immigrant farm workers who also may apply for permanent residency; For illegal immigrants, those in the country for five years could stay, keep working and eventually apply for citizenship - They would have to pay at least $3,250 in fines and fees, settle back taxes and learn English; Illegal immigrants in the country for more than two years but less than five would have to travel to a point of entry before re-entering the United States legally and beginning the lengthy process of seeking citizenship; An immigrant in the country illegally for less than two years would be required to leave with no guarantee of return."
Here's the coverage from the Denver Post. They write, "The changes are the most significant overhaul of U.S. immigration laws in two decades. But they are not yet law and are far from guaranteed to become so. The Senate bill must be merged with legislation passed by the House in December that increased penalties for illegal immigration and emphasized sealing the U.S. border. The House measure did not offer legal status for undocumented workers. 'All the good work we've done here this week, it can be eliminated in a heartbeat when we go to conference with the House,' said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. 'We should know that dark clouds are forming on the horizon.' Already, lawmakers are talking about ripping up the House and Senate versions and starting from scratch in the conference committee formed to work out differences in the bills. Others predict the bills will be merged in a manner that keeps increased border-security provisions and requires illegal immigrants to leave the country before returning as guest workers."
"2008 pres"
6:56:58 AM 
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