US Immigration Legislation on Brink of Failure

Efforts in the U.S. Senate to approve a major reform of U.S. immigration law are on the brink of failure amid disagreements between majority Democrats and Republicans over its provisions. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill.

Legislation to overhaul what most assert is a broken immigration system and provide an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship has been the subject of heated debate since the plan was unveiled by a bipartisan group of senators a few weeks ago.

Supporters, including President Bush, have argued that, in offering the most sweeping changes in two decades, it would mark an important step toward fixing many of the immigration problems.

They argue that the bill stops short of declaring an amnesty for illegal immigrants, while offering a guest worker program, taking steps to strengthen border security and help immigrants and their families as well as American employers.

But opponents argue that the bill is flawed and does not do enough to enforce security at U.S. borders.

On Thursday, the Senate defeated attempts by Democratic majority leader Harry Reid to shut down debate, which would have cleared the way for a vote.

Senator Reid warned that failure to pass the bill would mark the end of any realistic hope for immigration reform while President Bush is in office. "If this bill goes down with the vast majority of the Democrats voting for this action to move forward on this, and the Republicans vote against it, he and I discussed what the headline is going to be, and the headline is going to be: Democrats vote to continue the bill, Republicans vote against it, the president fails again," he said.

Reid acknowledged frustration that the process was being slowed by numerous amendments from both sides of the political aisle. But he says Republicans were principally to blame for blocking progress.

Senator John Ensign, a Nevada Republican, was among those arguing that the legislation was being pushed too fast by Democrats. "It is too important a piece of legislation to rush it through here, to say that we want to do other things [and] we have other priorities. Well, right now I don't think the American people think that there is too much more of a priority than fixing our immigration system. It literally is broken, and we have to design an immigration system that is good for America," he said.

"They are not going to buy into a bill that is not going to work. They expect us this time to do something that works," said Republican Jeff Sessions.

In earlier debate on the legislation, the main backers of the bill suffered a defeat when the Senate approved an amendment, proposed by a Democrat, to place a five year limit on a new temporary guest worker program the legislation would create.

Despite the opposition, majority leader Reid scheduled another vote on ending debate for later Thursday. If that fails, chances for immigration reform will have suffered a major setback. "We need to have the record reflect that this bill isn't going anyplace but it is not our fault. I repeat, this is a bill that was negotiated in good faith by Democrats and Republicans, and it is the president's bill he says he wants this," he said.

Reid suggests that President Bush needs to become personally involved again if there is to be any chance of salvaging immigration reform at this stage.
VOA News - US Immigration Legislation on Brink of Failure

I don't care which side is holding this up.......if it's defeated its o.k. by me. I think that the people have spoken.......build a damn wall and boost the illegals out on their ear.

Migrant workers can be issued temp visa's when it's done. All others can take the appropriete actions to become U.S. citizens.

Have a good one!:s4:

it's nice to see that there are still a few folks in washington that give a damn about what their constituents need or are properly frightened by the inevitable backlash from this blatant attempt at amnesty. i doubt there are enough to trash it, but at least someone is still trying.

The ONLY candidate in the Republican debates the other night that was for this was McCain. The rest called it the McCain/Kennedy/Bush bill. LOL

This issue is one reason why I like Hunter.....he's all for a double wall from coast to coast! "Not that flimsy one you see on CNN with people climbing over it either"

Have a good one!:s4:

I think anyone who wants to be in this country should be. As long as its regulated of course, so they pay taxes, don't spread strange diseases, and make sure they aren't former terrorists.

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

I don't care which side is holding this up.......if it's defeated its o.k. by me. I think that the people have spoken.......build a damn wall and boost the illegals out on their ear.

Have a good one!:s4:

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Here, p4b, this is a video..penn and teller get six illegals to build the same section of fence that would be used on the borders, and they have 3 groups of 2 of them going through it in different ways, in a matter of minutes. Makes no sense to build a fence that we would be constantly repairing and still wouldn't have solved the problem.


YouTube - P&T Bullshit - 506 Immigration (3/3)

same idea...this wall wont keep them out just as a war in iraq wont keep terrorism out of the united states

If thats their idea of a wall then fine.......save the damn money! The Great wall of china, the Berlin wall, The wall created between Israel and Palestine.......now they are border walls. Likewise, I'd use "Mexican Justice" on border crossers the same way as THEY do in Southern Mexico. :thumbsup:

I'd make that s.o.b. the eighth wonder of the world!:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

If thats their idea of a wall then fine.......save the damn money! The Great wall of china, the Berlin wall, The wall created between Israel and Palestine.......now they are border walls. Likewise, I'd use "Mexican Justice" on border crossers the same way as THEY do in Southern Mexico. :thumbsup:

I'd make that s.o.b. the eighth wonder of the world!:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:s4:

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I like it, gun towers and all. Whats missing are the mine fields. I'd also build a catapult, to launch all the illegals back over the wall, charge admission and draw names to see who gets to pull the lever. ~LOL~The admission to the catapulting should be enough to build the whole shootin match.

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Originally Posted by medicinal

I like it, gun towers and all. Whats missing are the mine fields. I'd also build a catapult, to launch all the illegals back over the wall, charge admission and draw names to see who gets to pull the lever. ~LOL~The admission to the catapulting should be enough to build the whole shootin match.

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HELL YEAH! I'm all for a mine field....just post up the warning signs in Spanish to show our compasion.

As far as tunneling under the thing.......we got seismic sensors that would work great! When we see the activity we could break out a few of them bunker busters........that should get their attention!

By the way brother.....it's the dems that just love the thought of these people getting all our goodies here in the states. It's the "humanitarian" thing to do ya know.;)

Have a good one!:s4:

By the way brother.....it's the dems that just love the thought of these people getting all our goodies here in the states. It's the "humanitarian" thing to do ya know.
I think you've misread this one. It may be the Democratic politicians that see this as adding voters to their base, but the democratic base is pretty much against this with the exception of Mexican activists. It is the democrat base, the blue collar workers that stand the most to lose if these illegals get home free. The Democrat politicians like Harry Reid are going for this and I don't think they have their constituents in mind. I've e-mailed, called and written Reid severasl times voicing my opposition to the war and Immigration. I get in return a form letter glazing over the facts and assuring me he is working in my best interest, Bullshit. The only recourse I have is to vote against him in the primaries, and rest assured, he'll not get my vote again.

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Originally Posted by medicinal

I think you've misread this one. It may be the Democratic politicians that see this as adding voters to their base, but the democratic base is pretty much against this with the exception of Mexican activists. It is the democrat base, the blue collar workers that stand the most to lose if these illegals get home free. The Democrat politicians like Harry Reid are going for this and I don't think they have their constituents in mind. I've e-mailed, called and written Reid severasl times voicing my opposition to the war and Immigration. I get in return a form letter glazing over the facts and assuring me he is working in my best interest, Bullshit. The only recourse I have is to vote against him in the primaries, and rest assured, he'll not get my vote again.

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I've sent out a few e-mails myself on this topic! However many billions it would take to do this thing right will eventually save us trillions in costs relating to illegals.

Have a good one!:s4:

If you want to see man's ingenuity at building successful walls, try visiting the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie. This museum was buit a stones throw from Checkpoint Charlie, the only connection between East and West Berlin. Touch the Wall, if you ever have a chance. Feel the flood of emotions, if you can.

After seeing the "clever" devices Man created to divide and seperate his fellow man, I cannot support any course of action that would establish our own wall. When I try to picture walling our country in, as so many seem to want, my conscience pulls me in. Photographs and displays echo hauntingly back from my own visit to the museum All I can see are the bloody, lifeless bodies stopped at the base of the wall. Can anything be worth that price?

We tried saying pretty please but they still won't ask for work visa's OR look into the proper channels for citizenship. What would you do to curb this or should we just have open pockets for education, health care, etc....that goes along with the problem?

Have a good one!:s4:

I think the mine fields and the return catapult still offer the most compassionent idea, you could charge a fee to let them just walk back accross to avoid the catapult, but the sight of millions of illegals being hurled 300 ft. into the air back accross the border does titilate the visual senses. ~LOL~

i'm in favor of digging a large trench along the border, filling it with rabid wolverines and watching the fun. cruel SOB, ain't i.

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Originally Posted by medicinal

I think the mine fields and the return catapult still offer the most compassionent idea, you could charge a fee to let them just walk back accross to avoid the catapult, but the sight of millions of illegals being hurled 300 ft. into the air back accross the border does titilate the visual senses. ~LOL~

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Here's a nice prototype........

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90buminGzfw[/YOUTUBE]

Have a good one!:s4:

Perfect, of course without the chute. Although, buying each one of them a parachute would be way cheaper than letting them stay.