Immigration Reform Will Provide Pathway to Citizenship

Bipartisan Senate group has reached a deal

Senators from both parties have agreed on the outlines of comprehensive immigration reform, according to Politico.

Apparently, the reform will provide a pathway to citizenship for America's current 11 million undocumented immigrants. Young people who were brought to the country illegally as children would be offered a slightly different path.

The plan will also include stricter border controls and measures to enforce laws against illegal immigration and the hiring of undocumented workers.

The bill is also likely to help skilled workers to enter the country legally. In recent years high tech companies have complained that there aren't enough skilled workers in the US, and current immigration laws prevent them hiring sufficient foreigners.

The plan was concocted by Republicans John McCain, Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, and Jeff Flake and Democrats Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Bob Menendez, and Michael Bennet.

Do you support offering America's 11 million illegal immigrants a path to citizenship?

[Vance1]

comprehensive immigration reform......also known as AMNESTY for Illegal criminal people... Period

[PNWest]

And done in a bipartisan manner.

[Fishbone345]

@PNWest Yah, but those are RINO's. So that doesn't count right?

[PNWest]

@Fishbone345 Could be a sign of things to come. We'll have to see how they are treated by the rest of the pack.

[Fishbone345]

@PNWest Well, if this site is a microcosm for America, they will be labeled RINO and insulted constantly.

[PNWest]

@Fishbone345 I hope so. That will make it easier for the dems in 2014 and 2016. I don't think that the GOP is going to willingly go back to sanity any time soon. We may even see a comeback by Caribou Barbie now that Fox doesn't want her.

[jessejaymes]

Give them five years to get citizenship and after than anyone in the USA found not to have become a citizen or fully immersed in the process is deported upon threat of immediate execution if they return. PERIOD. Lock down that damn border. FINALLY. Why do we have more than 250,000 troops outside the U.S. and do not lock down that border is beyond me.

[Fishbone345]

"Why do we have more than 250,000 troops outside the U.S. and do not lock down that border is beyond me."
Because apparently protecting Israel's interests and Europe's interests are more important.

[jessejaymes]

@Fishbone345 We have more than 20,000 in Korea and another 120,000 in Afghanistan. Neither of which have anything to do with Israel or Europe.

[Fishbone345]

@jessejaymes I know where they are jess, I think you are missing my point. I was talking about the bases we have across the globe. I think you know better than to think I don't want them home where they should be. I've spoken on the issue more than once. How many are at bases in the UK? How many are at bases in Germany? How many are stationed on aircraft carrier flotilla's in the Persian Gulf?
I think they should be home protecting our pitiful, sieve-like borders too.

[jessejaymes]

@Fishbone345 Well I do understand that. We have 46,000 in Germany. to what purpose one has to question.

[Fishbone345]

@jessejaymes It dates back to the Cold War. We left them there in bases in Germany after WWII to establish a presence just in case Stalin got any big ideas. You can thank Patton for that one, he actually wanted to continue on through Berlin and make his way to Moscow. His idea being they would be next, and he was technically right even if a bit loony.
Why we still have continued presence is likely to establish air power to that region and the Middle East if need be. The problem is, we overstayed our welcome, which leads to blowback, which leads to terrorism. But, don't try telling that to someone on the Right. Terrorists attacked the WTC's because they are jealous of our lifestyle. Right.

[jessejaymes]

Part of the American dream Involves English.

[Vance1]

Yes if only they could speak it

[jessejaymes]

@Vance1 You and i agree very seldom but we do here. If I can learn to speak Spanish in my own country in about 5-7 years without a single course or tutor, just picked it up, then they can damn well learn English in the 20 or so years many of them have been here.

[Fishbone345]

"Part of the American dream Involves English."
Part of it also involves cash. Like the under the table money they get from people who hire cheap laborers to save money. Enablers are a huge part of why people risk coming here.

[thejimbo]

@Vance1 se habla espanol? ;)

[jessejaymes]

@Fishbone345 Absolutely. Walmart gets popped every year basically for hiring illegals. If there is no significant penalties for corporations hiring illegals then this who thing is just smoke and mirrors.

[falco_alba]

We are a nation of immigrants. Anyone here has roots in Europe, Africa, and Asia. My mother is an immigrant and my father is second-generation. If we forget where we come from, we have forgotten what principles we are founded on. Immigration reform, if it gives willing, law abiding, hard workers the opportunity to pursue a better life, is an excellent thing.

[jessejaymes]

My ancestors came here legally through Ellis Island. Not across a border illegally. There is a difference to my mind.

[PoliticalSpice]

We owe gratitude to those taking low paying jobs americans don't want. Without them food prices would easily double. They harvest our food, clean our poultry, butcher our meat and help ship and pack those foods. The cast majority are decent hard working folks who deserve to be legalized and allowed to be citizens if they want...

[falco_alba]

@jessejaymes Maybe, but illegals take jobs that most don't want - the cheap jobs. And remember, the first immigrants were illegal. They just didn't care so they took.

[AlexMIA]

@PoliticalSpice You know once they are legallized those farm jobs won't be low paying anymore. Neither will the construction labor jobs.

[AndrewEvans]

@falco_alba The only difference is the entitlement incentives. Without the promise of free shit on the tax payer's dollar immigration would be a good thing.

[Dan_Tien]

"In recent years high tech companies have complained that there aren't enough skilled workers in the US". Then why have they been laying off so many skilled American workers and shipping their jobs overseas?

[Fishbone345]

Good question. Watch as everybody ignores it and rants about other things.

[PNWest]

There are plenty of qualified American high tech workers. The problem is that there aren't many willing to work for $12/hr. High Tech companies were among the first to learn how to outsource work to India and China. As a country we need to create laws that encourage companies to hire Americans.

[PoliticalSpice]

How about denying any tax breaks for any out of country operations. Deny deductions for business expenses and employees outside the u.s. Slap the same duties on such goods as any other imported goods.

[Dan_Tien]

Henry Ford said "There is one rule for industrialists and that is: Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible." Now that rule has been changed to: "Make the cheapest quality of goods possible to sell at the highest price possible, paying the lowest wages possible." Maybe new American capitalists are richer than Henry Ford, but I think that his brand of capitalism was better for Americans.

[AndrewEvans]

@PNWest You obviously haven't been to the bay area. Indians dominate cisco and many other tech companies. We ship our engineers in from India regularly. They make decent money too.

[Grubby]

This is just the beginning. Illegal lawbreakers get amnesty now, next step the liberals throw the borders open to overwhelm the country with good, dependent, democratic party voters. It will guarantee our welfare state forever. But it all started bipartisan, so Obama can claim that all of America wanted it.

[PoliticalSpice]

It started bipartisan alright. Reagan did ig and it is being done agsin by Obama, and I say it's about time.

[vws]

With all of the criminals now serving in DC, what the difference if we let 11 million more in?

[stepped_in_it]

@vws HMMM.....the difference is many of these "illegals" are willing to work!

[RoFroh]

I just hope these illegal immigrant already here and their kids don't jump to the front of the line wait your turn and if not go home and come in thru tge front door next time!!!

[Fishbone345]

"Apparently, the reform will provide a pathway to citizenship for America's current 11 million undocumented immigrants. Young people who were brought to the country illegally as children would be offered a slightly different path."
Who did you think they were talking about in the story?

[RoFroh]

@Fishbone345 I don't really care if their parents brought them here illegally....that's not the American taxpayers problem....neither is the fact that this is the country they grew up in!!!.....making it more appealing to be here illegally is a BAD idea PERIOD!!!!

[Fishbone345]

@RoFroh You completely missed the point of the story and the reason for this Bill. You said "I just hope these illegal immigrants already here". That is who this Bill is about, the ones already here.

"that's not the American taxpayers problem"
Agreed. The finances should come from them to undergo the process. Keep in mind how expensive it would be to simply deport 11 million people.

"making it more appealing to be here illegally is a BAD idea PERIOD!!!!"
Couldn't agree more! Go after Walmart and other Enablers who pay people under the table for cheap labor! They are the reason people brave coming here in the first place.

[PoliticalSpice]

@RoFroh Well since the presidential race, You can count on losing this debate, as your repubs surrender to the new realities, and shove the bigots into in signifgance. Best bet forbyou is to get drunk on margaritas with @Ohwiseone on some imported Mexican tequila...

[Waynestew]

Marco Rubio just gave up his chances for running a 2016. He will now be labeled a RINO for this.

[AlexMIA]

No! Why?

[Waynestew]

@AlexMIA You know exactly "why" because anyone who cooperates with Democrats are now called Rinos. Compromise has become a dirty word for those on the rightn

[AlexMIA]

@Waynestew Not true! I've called out RINO's before and these guys aren't RINO's. Compromise doesn't make you a RINO, atleast the right type of compromise. Abondoning all or most of your republican principles after running as one is what makes you a RINO!

[AlexMIA]

@Waynestew What commity did is good and could have potential!

[AlexMIA]

@AlexMIA <this>

[scotta]

I understand the kids didn't have a choice. The parents should be treaties like the federal law breakers they are. I have no problem with leagal imagration but there are laws on the books against illegal imagration.I ddon't care where they come from enter our land of ass clowns idiots and just stupid uneducated people our arms are open wide for legal entry in to the country. Before any says anything. It is not the job thing. The people fill a need that citizens who want just a hand out not a Bob I

[BelinKS]

I do believe that people brought here as children should be given special consideration. This was not their fault. As for the people who came here as adult illegal immigrants, they knew they were breaking the law. I am not in charge of this situation, but our country needs to remember the great number of people on a waiting list, trying to immigrate to this country legally!

[AlexMIA]

I thought it was more than 11 million? I guess these are just the eligable ones. I hope they are smart enough to get some revenue out of it! We definately need it! I'd say a $1000 fine to get amnesty since they were here illegaly. Your standard 50-80$ for ID or DL. A resident alien registration fee. Then get to work and contribute taxes! Cause you haven't excactly earned any entitlement points yet.

[get_involved]

WHAT IS INSANITY?

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Congress has passed 7 amnesties for illegal aliens, starting in 1986.

1. Immigration and Reform Control Act (IRCA), 1986: A blanket amnesty for some 2.7 million illegal aliens
2. Section 245(i) Amnesty, 1994: A temporary rolling amnesty for 578,000 illegal aliens
3. Section 245(i) Extension Amnesty, 1997: An extension of the rolling amnesty created in 1994
4. Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) Amnesty, 1997: An amnesty for close to one million illegal aliens from Central America
5. Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act Amnesty (HRIFA), 1998: An amnesty for 125,000 illegal aliens from Haiti
6. Late Amnesty, 2000: An amnesty for some illegal aliens who claim they should have been amnestied under the 1986 IRCA amnesty, an estimated 400,000 illegal aliens
7. LIFE Act Amnesty, 2000: A reinstatement of the rolling Section 245(i) amnesty, an estimated 900,000 illegal aliens.

Help fight ANOTHER Amnesty! Support Numbersusa!

HERE'S HOW: GOOGLE....... Numbersusa

Yahoo won't allow links.

Check out Numbersusa website. They lobby against illegal immigration and you can also learn how to make your voice heard!

[AlexMIA]

Hey you! Do we live in the same broke in debt country? What's 11,000,000 X $1500? That could be at a minimum what we could charge them for amnesty and naturalization. Not to mention that they would pay taxes and be accountable for medical expenses afterward. Maybe you should call your representative and tell them that, and not to allow anymore illegal immigrants after that! Or would you rather support untaxed cheap labor and unpaid medical bills paid by tax payers.

[stepped_in_it]

@AlexMIA Spot on! Some "yahoo's" think deporting them would be cheaper....foolish thinking. It would instantly add revenue to the tax base even without any fees up front (except costs to do the paperwork).

[PoliticalSpice]

@stepped_in_it Self deportation cost nothing.........except an election.

[stepped_in_it]

@PoliticalSpice HMMM.....thinking we can lure 'em back over the border with tacos and burritos (along with cervaza) laced along that border......nah, they wouldn't fall for it ;-)

[PoliticalSpice]

@stepped_in_it You mean lure em back to to the u.s. to force em to be citizens? Leave these poor mexicans alone, next you'll want them to work on getting Dick Cheney the Humanitarian of The Decade Award...

[Dan_Tien]

"I hear this every week, sometimes twice a day: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." No, it isn't."

"Where did this saying come from? It's attributed to Albert Einstein (probably not), Benjamin Franklin (probably not), Mark Twain (probably not) and mystery writer Rita Mae Brown (probably so) who used it in her novel Sudden Death. It's not clear who said it first, but according to at least one blogger it's "the dumbest thing a smart person ever said." The catchy saying has gathered steam in the past few years, and regardless of the source, it's gotten a lot of mileage."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-therap...

[Arumizy]

No path to citizenship, you do not reward crime you punish it.

[stepped_in_it]

So, you're willing to pay tax dollars to "round 'em up" and jail some (or many) and deport the rest? The act of illegal immigration would be , at best, considered a non-violent crime and would only "tax" our already over burdened systems. Please leave my tax dollars out of your "bigot" thinking and pay for it yourself!

[ACTSmom]

@stepped_in_it ...Explain that to the thousands waiting to get in LEGALLY. It certainly costs them more than $1500 and they're waiting years. The feds should spend some of their extra efforts in getting those people here before giving amnesty to the border jumpers.

[stepped_in_it]

@ACTSmom Whatever the "costs" are to legalize the illegal should be placed on them. As for the waiting to get here.....you must first heal up your existing wounds before you go fight a new battle!
This "pathway" should and better include a way to make this the last one! Seal our borders first and foremost.....but, I have my doubts!

[Arumizy]

@stepped_in_it So everyone who is against illegal immigrants and against rewarding criminal behavior is a "Bigot" lol, the left really has killed that word.

[stepped_in_it]

@Arumizy Not really. just get you and all your friends to pay the extra taxes required to hunt them down, "corral" them, process them and deport them. With 11 million, ya think $2000 a piece is reasonable? That's 22 billion to deport or maybe keep them around legally and it would be that much a year in extra revenue.....which do you want? Besides, again do you and your buddies want to do the menial jobs that they do?

[Jack-Black]

The only way this should happen is if 1. A fence along the entire southern border is built ( and dont say it can be done, IT CAN) 2. The border is patroled 24 hours per day by troops. 3. If a proposed citizen has a criminal record ( other than being hear illegally) they will be deported. 4. They pay all back taxes. 5. If someone is caught trying to sneak across the border once fence is built they will be barred from any chance in the future to obtain citizenship. 6. Speak English.

[stepped_in_it]

Fence (or moat)....yes. Clean record....yes. English....yes. Caught after fence built....yes. Border patrol......no. This is the 21st century.....video surveillance is much cheaper and requires less man power. It also doesn't put our men in the line of fire. Pay back taxes....no. This would discourage illegals to come forward and be difficult (at best) to figure how much (their previous wages have been illegal and not reported). IMO

[Jack-Black]

@stepped_in_it I agree with a state of the art fence with video surveilance , but we will still need people to gaurd it or it will be pointless. Dont think we would need anymore Patrol agents and maybe we could use gaurd units one weekend a month to supplement the agents on duty. Ok, your right, maybe a back tax would be too hard to figure. How about a flat fee for each person here illegally?

[Thunderchicken]

Does this plan end "anchor babies"? If not, no deal. Failing that, we should enforce the laws that we already have.

[MadAmerican]

This is where the politicians have gone against the wishes of the American public because of fear from the ACLU. It would be much easier and save this country millions of dollars if we would pull our troops out of the Arab countries and base them on our borders and cut that foreign aid. Then round up ecery illegal and send them packing. this would create more jobs also. Illegals broke the law to get here, and we do not need anymore law breakers in this country.

[Funkywhiteboy7]

Lets get these people paying taxes and contributing to the tax base, while offering them a better life. I know many disagree, but if I was facing the poverty some of these people are facing, I would risk anything and break ANY law to get my 2 sons onto US soil. Maybe by getting these people on the record, we may be able to cut down on the billions we sink into the unwinnable war on the border. After all , most of us are grandchildren or great grandchildren of immigrants.

[RedFloppyShoes]

Do in think the process has become something that it was not intended to do? Yes. It has been financially prohibitive.

However, that aside, making the process as easy as saying "let me in", is a dangerous proposition.

Kids are unfortunate victims, but we are a nation of laws and sadly, the laws are not been applied or adjusted for the smallest groups and applied hardest on the largest groups.