Senate Republicans Strike Immigration Deal

NYT reported A group of Senate Republicans reached agreement Wednesday night on a compromise proposal that they hope can garner bipartisan support and bring passage of a bill on the future of the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants. The compromise, which followed a day of negotiations, was endorsed by Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the majority leader. But it did not have the commitment of all Republicans, much less Democrats who have backed an approach that would put nearly all illegal immigrants on a path toward citizenship.

What about border security? Before they even consider making any of the illegals citizens they should build a secure fence, repeal posse comitatas within 10 miles of the border, and station the military there for training, so they can learn how to close borders; something they need i both Iraq and Afganistan.

As outlined by Senate Republicans late Wednesday, the compromise would place illegal immigrants in three categories:

• Those who have lived in the country at least five years would be put on a path toward guaranteed citizenship, provided that they remained employed, paid fines and back taxes, and learned English, a senior Republican aide said.

  There should be no guarantee of citizenship, and if they have a criminal record there should not be any way of getting citizenship.

  The aide said this group accounted for about 7 million of the roughly 11 million illegal immigrants believed to be living here.
• Those who have lived here for two to five years, said to number about three million, would have to leave the country briefly before reporting to an American port of entry, where they would be classified as temporary workers. They would be allowed to apply for citizenship but would have no guarantee of obtaining it. Those who did not would have to leave after participating in the temporary worker program for six years.

  They should be given an unforgable ID card with photo, fingerprints, and other bio data, and a dna swap should be taken. If they have a criminal record they should not be readmitted.

• The remaining one million or so, those who have lived in the country less than two years, would be required to leave. They could apply for temporary worker status but would not be guaranteed it.