Immigration - March 2007

ange Type Size Bill aims to break migration deadlock
Reforms could help ease way to citizenship for 12 million
Mike Madden
Republic Washington Bureau
Mar. 23, 2007 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON - A new immigration-reform bill introduced in the House on Thursday tries to duck the partisan stalemate that doomed similar legislation last year by being tougher in some ways and more generous in others for immigrants and employers alike.

The bill would delay any new benefits for foreign workers until the federal government has improved border security. It also would require undocumented immigrants to leave the United States briefly and re-enter before they would be eligible for citizenship.

But those requirements would be balanced against the promise of legal status for about 12 million people living here illegally now, along with an easier system for employers to verify that workers are eligible for jobs and a new visa allowing up to 400,000 foreign workers to come here temporarily each year. advertisement




Supporters hope that, taken together, the bill's provisions will break years of deadlock over immigration by drawing support from both Democrats and Republicans.

A similar bill the Senate passed last year stalled in the run-up to midterm elections.

"This bill will end illegal immigration," said Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., the proposal's chief co-sponsor along with Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. He noted that a sweeping immigration-reform measure adopted in 1986 did not accomplish that goal.

Supporters of immigration reform believe they have their best chance of passing legislation in years with Democrats in control of Congress and the White House pressing hard for GOP allies to sign on to the bill. But difficulties lie ahead for reformers, who had expected the Senate to take up immigration well before the House did. Negotiations in the Senate have bogged down as Republicans work with the White House to craft a proposal that can attract wide GOP support.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is still talking with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., his chief partner on immigration reform in recent years, but they haven't come to an agreement.

McCain, who is running for president, has heard widespread criticism on immigration from Republican voters. He said recently that supporters of last year's bill didn't focus enough on border security. A McCain spokeswoman said McCain was glad to see the new bill introduced.

Few people had read the entire 700-page proposal Thursday, but lobbyists, community activists and Democratic leaders in Congress mostly called it promising.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the new bill provides "an excellent framework" for immigration legislation. Community organizers behind many of last spring's immigration protest marches said they hope the bill will help move the debate along.

Civil rights groups responded to the bill, as well.

"Enforcement-only tactics such as anti-immigrant local ordinances and work-site raids have done nothing to curb undocumented immigration, but they have hurt local economies and caused suffering for American families," said Janet Murguía, president of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Latino advocacy organization.

A requirement that undocumented immigrants leave the country and re-enter legally proved controversial when it was added to last year's Senate bill, but advocates for immigrants said they could live with it if it eases the bill's passage.

Immigrants seeking legal status would have six years to comply, and they could leave and return through any border entry point without going back to their home countries.

"Nothing in the outlines appears to be a deal breaker yet," said John Gay, a senior vice president at the National Restaurant Association, one of several powerful business groups pushing for reform.

But the tougher provisions added to the bill did little to placate longtime critics.

"They keep changing the shade of lipstick, but like I've said time and time again, it's still the same old pig," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., who is running for the GOP presidential nomination on a fiercely anti-illegal-immigration platform.

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps called the bill a "lawbreaker assistance program."

2007-03-23 06:02:56 · 17 answers · asked by illegals_r_whiners 2

2007-03-23 06:00:54 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-03-23 05:50:53 · 4 answers · asked by Sonny K 1

2007-03-23 05:01:02 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

Hello all! Im an American who has been living in Berlin,Germany for almost 5 years. I came here and was married, but the marriage didnt last long, so i did not recieve eu citizenship. But i have been allowed to live and work in Germany legally in the pursuit of my music career. Every 4 years i must reapply to have my work license and residence renewed, and so far its been renewed 2 times without too many problems. From my understanding, after renewing it for the 3rd time (which is next year) i should recieve some type of permanent one. My question is, with the permissions and rights i have in germany, how difficult would it be for me to move to another european country, such as the Netherlands? My girlfriend is from Germany, and i know its easy for her, but we want to move together to the Netherlands, and i wanted to know if this is something that can be done without a lot of hassle. My situation is kind of complicated, and i would really appreciate anyone who could help.

2007-03-23 04:50:47 · 2 answers · asked by jonathan smith 1

1. It's illegal (The law can be changed to make it legal)

2. They take jobs from citizens. (How many people do you know that are unemployed or got laid off because an imigrant took their job?)

3. Crime. (Crime is high already due to it's citizens)

4. Overcrowded schools. (If they become legal, we can tax them and contribute the funds for schooling.

5. Economic impact from wages. (If they were made legal, minimun wage would take effect and it wouldn't disrupt other wages) (An arguement could also be made stating the cost businesses save is redistributed back into the economy from low wage)

Please list any other concerns I have missed.

2007-03-23 04:20:00 · 9 answers · asked by tHEwISE 4

You should not let the media tell you legal immigration is OK! It is not because of the millions of displace several generational Americans! Neither are the unemployment statistics correct for people "legal Americans" wanting & needing job/income! No other nation in the world allows millions a year to show up take jobs from their vested citizens!

2007-03-23 04:11:11 · 33 answers · asked by bulabate 6

I need a list of all the countries in africa , doing a reseach on them

2007-03-23 04:10:44 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

"No, I do not. I am no racist, yet feel that multi-racialism is not a solution to British problems In fact immigration creates more new undesired or unforeseen problems than solutions. We have to consider multiple issues- increased competition for the same number of employment vacancies -the rights of the majority indigenous being supplanted by the minority -effective positive discrimination and or favourable treatment toward minority interest groups to the detriment of the majority British Indigenous resident. Assimilation issues language issues cultural issues There are an increasing number of studies, (one which I will later find a link to) from universities, this one from the LSE which displays conclusively that Immigrants are a NEGATIVE EFFECT ON BRITISH SOCIETY- an LSE study. We are now witnessing a trend in academia who report more factually that immigration and multi-racialism is a NETT NEGATIVE PHENOMENON. Many Asian nations are beginning to heed the experience of the West.."

2007-03-23 04:06:05 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

A wise man once said, people hate and fight each other, not because of thier diffrences, but because of thier similiarities.........they both fight over control of the same......power, shelter, Nhs,United kingdom, jobs, food , good living , etc

2007-03-23 03:11:45 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous

i dont say nothing offensive. wat the **** is their problem?

2007-03-23 02:57:58 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

anythnig would help =]

2007-03-23 02:50:35 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-03-23 02:50:02 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

REMEMBER THE ALAMO!!!!!!
Has everyone forgot what happened in Texas?
It has happened again, mexico has invaded, when are we going to do anything about it. Will it be a repeat of the Alamo?
Will just a few great Americans sacrifice before the rest get the message?
History is repeating its self!
Our country is at stake!

2007-03-23 02:45:56 · 11 answers · asked by True Red White & Blue 3

I am a US resident, my husband is a citizen, my grandchild has lived with us for the past 4 years, both parents of the child do not want this child. I have been trying to get lawyers to help me with this, so that she can become a legal resident; but four years on -no one has been able to help. This child needs a social security number, needs health insurance, needs to be recognized and a child in the USA with rights, and needs to go through immigration but INS needs an adoption cert, which I can not get either here or in England, what can I do? There has to be a way forward. This child is an exceptional 'A' student and wants to have a life like the rest of our family. We have used all our savings on lawyers and health care for this child and still no further forward! The child is still and illegal immigrant unable to travel outside the USA for fear of not being allowed back. Please is there any person that can help. Thank you.

2007-03-23 02:42:48 · 5 answers · asked by Sonya F 1

For example, let's say that the economies of Mexico, Guatamala, El Salvador, and all other Central and South American countries were improved. The standard of living became equal to that of the United States, where there was plenty of work, low unemployment levels and stable economies.

Would this stem the flow of illegal immigrants flowing into the US?

Would those illegal immigrants already here consider returning to their home countries?

2007-03-23 02:32:04 · 7 answers · asked by Wee Bit Naughty 3

2007-03-23 02:26:25 · 3 answers · asked by pinkbullet 5

I sent my green card application a couple of weeks ago and have yet to receive a receipt notice from the USCIS which is fine as I know it can take up to 30 days to get that.
However my checks for the filing fees have been cashed. Does this mean that my application was thorough enough and they wont be asking me to submit more documents and/or evidence?
(Please dont bother to answer if you are one of those boring sarcastic people who think only terrorists appy for green cards! I am genuinely and happily married to a US born citizen!)

2007-03-23 02:22:46 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

Doing a visa run and looking for a cheap way to get there. Have to go tomorrow as it is the only time my girlfriend can go with me. Thanks to all that answer.

2007-03-23 02:17:58 · 6 answers · asked by Charles P 1

2007-03-23 02:07:24 · 20 answers · asked by olin1963 6

Blair for a reason to go to war against Iran, just as the trick with WMD ?
Where those marines(or spies) send there as provocation? What were they doing in the Iranian Gulf water ?
As one former Bush advicer said a month ago on CNN , " i believe Bush & Blair are cooking something to go to war against Iran " & added " it will have to happen between April & July".
What do you think ?

2007-03-23 01:56:23 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-03-23 01:52:01 · 17 answers · asked by Dingle-Dongle 4

2007-03-23 01:41:56 · 25 answers · asked by sami a 1

I have a boyfriend in Israel and I need to go and see him. I need some help in securing funds to get there. Is there a way to get some help in doing so?
In addition, we want to come back here and be together. If we were straight we could marry and he can become a citizen, but we are gay and dont have those same rights. Someone please help.

2007-03-23 01:21:34 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

I applied for Immigration visa in London US consulate. Was put on additional administrative processing for security clearance. Now my employer wants me to apply again under H1 category. I am not sure whether going for an interview while there is a pending visa application a good idea.
I will appreciate if anyone can shre their similar experiences or have gone through something similar.

2007-03-23 01:04:13 · 2 answers · asked by Bindu 1

2007-03-23 00:59:41 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous

my husband and i are nigerians which means we are black thanks

2007-03-23 00:24:18 · 6 answers · asked by mama T 1

am a nurse planning to move to usa but my husband is reluctant because of his prospect of getting job as an electrical engineer because he has a good job here in the middle east.

2007-03-23 00:02:10 · 10 answers · asked by mama T 1

The Usa and now England have decided to tighten up the laws with respect to citizenship. Now in the USA you can't even be a citizen if you get married to a citizen all because the illegals are taking over. So the people who truly love a person from another country get punished. Do you think that this is freedom? You can no longer get more than a 6 months stay on a visa in England because of these laws also unless you are going to marry the person. If you are not taking up public funds then why do you have to leave a country? Why do our countries 'own' us?

2007-03-22 23:33:03 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-03-22 22:43:14 · 3 answers · asked by muhammad I 1