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WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans and Democrats closed in on a last-minute compromise Thursday on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he had been assured President Bush supports the measure, and would publicly say so later in the day.
As outlined, the measure would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the future flow of immigrants into the United States and offer legalized status to the millions of men, women and children in the country unlawfully.
"We've had a huge breakthrough" overnight, said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
Not done deal yet:
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, agreed, but cautioned that the agreement had not yet been sealed.
Even so, the presence of both leaders at a celebratory news conference underlined the expectation that the Senate could pass the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades, and act before leaving on a long vacation at the end of the week.
The developments marked a turnaround from Wednesday, when it appeared negotiations had faltered. The key sticking point involved the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, and the struggle to provide them an opportunity to gain legal status without exposing lawmakers to the political charge that they were advocating amnesty for lawbreakers.
While final details were not available, in general, the compromise would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.
Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.
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http://www.click2houston.com/politics/8507914/detail.html
Senate Reaches 'Breakthrough' On Immigration
Bush Said To Support New Approach
POSTED: 10:44 am CDT April 6, 2006
UPDATED: 10:55 am CDT April 6, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans and Democrats closed in on a last-minute compromise Thursday on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.
Republican officials said they had been told President George W. Bush would embrace the measure, but there was no immediate confirmation from the White House.
As outlined, the measure would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the future flow of immigrants into the United States and offer legalized status to the millions of men, women and children in the country unlawfully.
If approved, the measure would head to conference committee, where it will have to be reconciled with a much tougher bill that passed the U.S. House.
Call For Prayer As People Demonstrate:
Opponents of restrictive immigration proposals in Congress hope to draw as many as 100,000 people to a demonstration Monday at the Washington Monument.
Organizers are using popular Spanish-language radio and networks of community organizations to mobilize the protests in Washington and other cities.
They are hoping to expand on a groundswell that attracted as many as 500,000 protesters in Los Angeles last month and thousands more in such cities as Washington and Chicago.
Officials of the National Capital Immigrant Coalition predicted Monday's turnout in more than 60 cities would number in the millions.
At a special Mass, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony called for prayer and fasting in solidarity with illegal immigrants and for the U.S. Senate.
Mahony called the congressional immigration debate a unique opportunity, saying: "God help us if we let it pass without enacting good, sound and just immigration reform."
Mahony said he fears if the Senate goes on a scheduled two-week break Saturday without taking action on immigration, it will be a long time before it takes up the issue again.
The cardinal is a fierce critic of proposals that would make it a crime to help illegal immigrants. He's instructed his parishes to disobey such a law, if passed.
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans and Democrats closed in on a last-minute compromise Thursday on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he had been assured President Bush supports the measure, and would publicly say so later in the day.
As outlined, the measure would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the future flow of immigrants into the United States and offer legalized status to the millions of men, women and children in the country unlawfully.
"We've had a huge breakthrough" overnight, said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
Not done deal yet:
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, agreed, but cautioned that the agreement had not yet been sealed.
Even so, the presence of both leaders at a celebratory news conference underlined the expectation that the Senate could pass the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades, and act before leaving on a long vacation at the end of the week.
The developments marked a turnaround from Wednesday, when it appeared negotiations had faltered. The key sticking point involved the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, and the struggle to provide them an opportunity to gain legal status without exposing lawmakers to the political charge that they were advocating amnesty for lawbreakers.
While final details were not available, in general, the compromise would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.
Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.
*******************************************************
http://www.click2houston.com/politics/8507914/detail.html
Senate Reaches 'Breakthrough' On Immigration
Bush Said To Support New Approach
POSTED: 10:44 am CDT April 6, 2006
UPDATED: 10:55 am CDT April 6, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans and Democrats closed in on a last-minute compromise Thursday on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.
Republican officials said they had been told President George W. Bush would embrace the measure, but there was no immediate confirmation from the White House.
As outlined, the measure would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the future flow of immigrants into the United States and offer legalized status to the millions of men, women and children in the country unlawfully.
If approved, the measure would head to conference committee, where it will have to be reconciled with a much tougher bill that passed the U.S. House.
Call For Prayer As People Demonstrate:
Opponents of restrictive immigration proposals in Congress hope to draw as many as 100,000 people to a demonstration Monday at the Washington Monument.
Organizers are using popular Spanish-language radio and networks of community organizations to mobilize the protests in Washington and other cities.
They are hoping to expand on a groundswell that attracted as many as 500,000 protesters in Los Angeles last month and thousands more in such cities as Washington and Chicago.
Officials of the National Capital Immigrant Coalition predicted Monday's turnout in more than 60 cities would number in the millions.
At a special Mass, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony called for prayer and fasting in solidarity with illegal immigrants and for the U.S. Senate.
Mahony called the congressional immigration debate a unique opportunity, saying: "God help us if we let it pass without enacting good, sound and just immigration reform."
Mahony said he fears if the Senate goes on a scheduled two-week break Saturday without taking action on immigration, it will be a long time before it takes up the issue again.
The cardinal is a fierce critic of proposals that would make it a crime to help illegal immigrants. He's instructed his parishes to disobey such a law, if passed.