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Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Reform

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 03:46:31 PM EST
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Today, key Senators announced a compromise has been reached on immigration reform. More here. If you're just catching up, here's a good primer on the issues from the LA Times today.

Shorter version: Say goodbye to Specter's Chairman's Mark bill that passed the Judiciary committee last week. Say hello to the Frist bill, that includes a compromise called the Hagel-Martinez bill introduced last night.

The Senate Judiciary bill died a filibuster death today when Senators voted against cloture. A vote on the new compromise legislation could come tomorrow. Congress starts a two week Easter recess Monday.

Background here. Key differences between the Chairman's Mark and the Hagel-Martinez include:

Key Differences between Hagel/Martinez and the Specter Substitute:

1. The Specter substitute allows almost all of the 11-12 million illegal who are here illegally to stay in the U.S. and adjust to legal status (green cards). The Specter substitute does not take into consideration how long these individuals have been in the U.S.

The Hagel/Martinez Amendment only allows the illegal who have been here more than 5 years to stay in the U.S. and adjust to legal status. Those who have been here less than 5 years but more than two years would be required to exit the country and return through the a land port of entry with a visa.

2. The Specter substitute provides a direct path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant living within our borders.

The Hagel/Martinez Amendment creates a separate path for illegal immigrants who have been here less than 5 but more than 2 years. These individuals would have to meet the requirements of the new temporary worker program first. Over time, qualified individuals would have the chance to become citizens. The annual cap for green cards as defined in the Specter bill would apply.

Update: AILA is supporting the compromise.

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    Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Reform | 13 comments (13 topical)
    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#1)
    by Punchy on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 04:46:17 PM EST
    I still don't understand. How can one verify how long he/she's been in the country if he/she's here illegally? How in the hell does one legally document the day/month/year that a particular person has been here when that said person has been doing everything possible over those years to AVOID being detected? I'm quite sure these illegal immigrants didn't jump the fence and then saunter up to the first judge they bumped into and said "Look, I'm here. April whatever, 2001. Write that down, just in case...". I suspect we're about to have 11 or 12 million illegals who came over here in 2001, and not a single once that's come here since...

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 05:06:15 PM EST
    How do you say Catch 22 in Spanish?

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#3)
    by roy on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 05:18:13 PM EST
    Work records would work if they've been paying taxes. Five years worth of bills sent to a US address might work if they're addressed to the legal name or an established alias. Bank records. Failing that, sworn affidavits from folks of acceptable honesty -- regulators or judges will define that later. None of that's perfect, but "pretty good" might be good enough.

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 06:02:18 PM EST
    I can't believe you lefties haven't figured this out. Halliburton is in the forged document business.

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 07:04:26 PM EST
    I don't doubt it. Too bad you're not in the joke business.

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 07:07:56 PM EST
    Believe it or not the INS knows which areas to look if they really want to enforce whatever this new law calls for but without question the INS don't have the man power to catch those who don't pay taxes.We shall see.Living In Southern California. SFV.

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#7)
    by scarshapedstar on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 07:23:58 PM EST
    The Hagel/Martinez Amendment creates a separate path for illegal immigrants who have been here less than 5 but more than 2 years. What is it with these guys and "donut hole" legislation?

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 06, 2006 at 08:11:01 PM EST
    Halliburton will be building the next wave of internment camps--under the label of private prisons--for the undocumented or those that have been ordered deported but without a home country to return to.

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 07, 2006 at 08:10:20 AM EST
    Charlie.... How do you say Catch 22 in Spanish? Good question... You should probably learn though.... It looks like we'll all be 'required' to speak spanish soon. I already have to hit the 'for english' button every time I call any business now anyway.

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 07, 2006 at 08:18:16 AM EST
    It looks like we'll all be 'required' to speak spanish soon. I already have to hit the 'for english' button every time I call any business now anyway.
    So if you are given the option to select Spanish or English, how is this a precursor to everyone eventually being required to speak Spanish?

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 07, 2006 at 11:55:41 AM EST
    macro... So if you are given the option to select Spanish or English, how is this a precursor to everyone eventually being required to speak Spanish? In case you hadn't notice...Spanish has become the defacto "second Language" in this country.... and if we don't stop the flood, it will be the first soon! We speak English here...I shouldn't have to press squat. Why is it there is no button for German, Italian, Chinese...etc.? Nevermind...I'll answer that...it's because we have 12MILLION illegal Mexicans here...that's why...and they are being swooned to by the left! (potential voters ya know!)

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 07, 2006 at 12:09:56 PM EST
    Keep stickin' your head in the sand, BB. I'm not your problem, shrub and the business community is.

    Re: Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Refor (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 07, 2006 at 02:23:23 PM EST
    Charlie... Keep stickin' your head in the sand You never cease to amaze me with your witty comebacks.. Let's see now...who's actually sticking their heads in the sand? Could it be the Dems (libs) who continue to say there is no illegal immigration problem? I'm not your problem I don't recall saying you were...! (how did you get that out of my last post???) Unless of course you happen to be an undocumented (Illegal) Alien, in which case you are everyone's problem. shrub and the business community is. Well if we are still on the issue of illegals (hard to tell with your e-mail)...I would agree the business community is at fault here. But, as far as Bush goes, he didn't make this problem that's many decades old, ...(even tho you Dems like to pin ALL the worlds problems on him) however, I do blame him (as with just about every other politician out there) for not having the balls to do something about it. Lot's of Hispanic votes ya know!

    Senate Reaches Compromise on Immigration Reform | 13 comments (13 topical)