The Immigration Compromise
Posted By RichC on April 7, 2006
Dealing with illegal immigration reform in Washington while humanely dealing with the 11+ million Central American and Mexican people in the United States is a very challenging situation. First dealing with those who are here illegally by force is impossible; we need a better solution. Second if we don’t have border security, no matter who is sent back, they’ll continue to cross back over again and again. Thankfully for as much criticism our legislators receive, yesterday they seem to be able to creatively compromise a solution that to me is some of the most reasonable legislation in a long time — at least the Senate version.
The new bill has been written by Republican Senators Chuck Hagel and Mel Martinez and has at least 65 supporters. Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman believes there are enough senators onboard to override any potential filibuster by opponents — either on the right or the left. The House has presented a much stiffer proposal than in the one yesterday which has no so-called amnesty provisions for putting illegals on an eventual path to citizenship.
The compromise that finally got enough Senators concluded that an “estimated one million illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years would have to leave, or remain here illegally. Some three million or so illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. between two and five years will have to report to their prior port of entry into the U.S. to be reclassified as temporary workers. The roughly 7 million immigrants who’ve spent more than five years here would be on a virtually guaranteed path to citizenship, provided they stay employed, pay a fine and back taxes and learn English.”
It will be interesting to see where the bill goes from here and if the President backs the Senate proposal as most suspect. Nevertheless, the political system is working and the solution being supported by most in the Senate seems realistic. I hope the rest of America climbs aboard and that we gain a handle on illegals living and working in the shadows.
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