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BUSH NEEDS TO DO ANOTHER BILL SAYING "IF YOU WANT TO FIX YOUR PAPER OF IMMIGRATION THAN YOU HAVE TO PAY FINE FOR EVERYTHING, IF NOT I HAVE TO SEND YOU BACK TO MEXICO. THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED FOR 3 YEARS OR MORE CAN RECEIVE THE PAPER IF YOU APPLY AND PAY THE AMOUNT WITHOUT LEAVING THE COUNTRY,JUST DON'T DRIVE/CAN'T WORK JUST YOUR SPOUSE CAN WORK...

I am married to a US citizen but we are currently living in my country as although they have never refused it, is close to impossible for me to get a residence permit for the US. For me to be able to live in the US we would first have to endure a lengthy separation (at least 3 years).
This new immigration bill is a slap in the face for anyone who is legally trying to immigrate to the US. We are made to jump through hoops just to prove we will not be a burden on the welfare system (even if you are highly qualified and able to contribute to the economy)but with this new bill it seems when you enter the country illegally everything is handed to you on a silver platter.

Why is this the last chance to pass legislation on Immigration reform? If it's as important to the politicians as it is to the American people, then regardless of wether or not it's an election year the issue should take center stage. A statement such as “We have one good opportunity to pass immigration reform, and its within the next few weeks in the U.S. Congress" gives me the impression that they (the White House/Congress) are trying to convince the American public that if we do not accept whats out there right now in the form of legislation,wether it's good or bad, than nothing will get done at all. This legislation seems somewhat one sided in that it benefits 2 classes of people. The first class is the immigrants who came here illegally and the buisness owners and wealthy individuals who can profit from exploiting these illegal workers. It seems to leave out the largest group of people and those are the working class Americans who pay the price for these foolish endeavors our elected officials who cater to big money influence and self preservation get us into.

I will live to regret this, but I find that I can agree with some of what the Republicans are saying. That border just cannot be secure without more agents. You can build all of the fencing and walls you want, but without people to guard them, the fences are worthless. This problem is going to take people...border patrol, employment investigators, ICE officials...more people to enforce the laws that exist. And it is going to take more cooporation with local officials. If they can control the border and illegal employers,I will be comfortable talking about the 12-20 million who are here...but until then...

No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it.
Theodore Roosevelt

This concept has been completely lost. Illegal immigrants broke the law. Plain and simple.

This bill is a true waste of Congressional time. The TRUE resolution will not be achieved through amnesty but the enforcement of US Law and allowing the Government agencies that are FUNDED to keep our borders infiltration free, are allowed and encouraged to do so. If this is something that is enforced by the Democrats, then I guess I am DEFINATLY NOT a Democrat. FIX our Borders, send the illegal’s HOME and pay for their deportation cost and the strain on our State and Federal Government funds, Medical, Welfare, Tax and Social Security systems. Seize their acquired property and auction, all the SUV’s, Mercedes, Pickup Trucks, Lexus, Range Rovers and everything else that they have aquired in the Promised Land. WE dropped our borders and we allowed them to come, so why are we acting like it’s a new problem. WE created this, NOW WE need to fix it and this bill is not the answer. FIX IT, Don’t Cop OUT!

P.S. Our Language is called English, our Italian, Scottish, Dutch, Asian, Black, German, British, Canadian, Latin, African, Mexican and every other ethnic-American version in this country ALL Speak it here and have for well over 230 years. Take the hint and get with the Program!

>US NEEDS CHEAP LABOR

Sure, but I don't think it needs illegal cheap labor. I'm for just enforcing the laws we have now, but I'm also in favor of expanded work visas and hight limits on immigration.

Why can't we have it both ways? No, illegals, but enough legal immigrants to get the work done.

I feel we should enforce the laws that are in effect now. Why pass more laws we are not going to enforce.
I think each and every one of us need to be looking at the politicians that we have elected. If they do not do the job in which we elected them to do, then boot them out next election. Let them know by email and by sending letters and calling them, that this is what will happen if they do not do the job. They spend a limited amount of time in the areas they serve for and really have no idea what THEIR public wants them to do.

Maybe they should ask the "legal" public-(their constituents) as to what they want done. We keep listening to the folks that have no say in the matter, the illegals them selves. We just seem to let the illegal-(yes I call them illegal, since they are not supposed to be here), have demonstrations and forums to voice their oppinions.

Let me ask this, if a group of theives decided to have a demonstration or forum, to voice their oppinion, what would happen? WOW, I am not sure even the politicians could mess up the answer on that question. Illegal is illegal, whether you steal something, murder someone or just plain BREAK THE LAW. The CURRENT laws cover illegal aliens, if they are not wanted for other crimes, they get sent home!!!!!

'Excuse me' to all the bleeding hearts. Charity begins at home! We already have plenty of U.S. CITIZENS living below the poverty level that have no problems doing the building trades, landscaping, meatpacking, or any other service jobs illegals take. It's a crock of B.S. that Americans won't do these jobs. Who did them before there were so many illegals? Yes illegals are human beings. But so are our own working class, low skilled, and working poor American Citizens. Should we all start breaking laws we don't like because it suits us? Or do we follow the rules? LEGAL Immigrants knock on the door and wait their turn. We have had an immigration policy that has served us pretty well over the last couple of centuries. Here's your proof "How many of us are Native American?" Just because some wish to cheat and break the law is not justification to change the law. Enforce the current laws that we have and spend legislation time on important things, Trade, War, Health Care, Campaign Finance Reform.

Let's see... 12M illegals is about 4% of US population. They mainly work low-skill, low-paying jobs, so they don't provide the proportional 4% of the Gross National Product (GDP), so let's approximate their contribution as 2% of the GDP. Let's "enforce existing laws" as proposed and eliminate this 2% of GDP. GREAT IDEA!!! What better way to force US into a fairly severe recession (for the record, last quarter GDP growth was less than 1%) while at the same time GUARANTEEING high inflation due to sudden lack of cheap labor. With high inflation there will no viable to stimulate the economy because cutting interest rates will no longer be an option. So the country will be stuck in a repeat of the 1970s for god knows how long. But hey, at least we won't have so many brown people around, right?

US needs these people at least as much as they need US. Get it through your thick patriotic heads that even if you don't particularly like these people you still need them. If you think gas prices are high now, wait till you deport/chase out these 12M illegals and see what your groceries and housing and restaurant and day care and house cleaning and freaking landscaping prices start to look like. Let me state it again: US NEEDS CHEAP LABOR. These people are it. Which parts of the country are and have been fastest growing? Answer: the South and the West - where most of the illegals are.

So please consider the consequences of losing 12M in population and at least 2% of the GDP before declaring your indignation at the presence of these people.

I hope they understand what this immigration bill would bring. In the global world, the US image has changed. There are people who have legally entered United States and are working to get their green cards which some have been waiting for 8 years as mentioned in one of the posts mentioned above. The new bill also says – Those who have been waiting to go back in the queue(after 5-6 years) and start green card processig again. Is this a political game?

Why are elected officials not listening to the people they represent??. Why are they not looking at what is going on in the areas they represent?? Did I read right, Senators voted not to send the 2 million known felons back to Mexico?? I live in Kenosha Wi, in the last few months within our area we have had a 23 high school teacher of art and coach of volleyball team, much loved, newly married, killed by illegal alien going wrong way on interstate, no license, no insurance, drunk. Racine, had a 1st grader sexually molested in bathroom at school, Milwaukee had multiple gang robberies in dozens of stores (6 illegals arrested) the most highly decorated Kenosha Sheriffs deputy, retired Marine, 48 years old with wife and 7 year old daughter, who rescued child from fire, was shot in the head 3 times for routine traffic stop. The officer died within minutes. The illegal immigrant had five aliases, had five social security numbers, criminal history in Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Wisconsin. He told prison officials he was mad at his wife because she cheated on him and if they did not quit bugging him he would kill another cop. No remorse at all for his actions. A 12 year old boy was molested in restaurant bathroom last weekend. he and family were eating out. Yesterday in small town of Delevan a 20 year old girl who was married to someone else was murdered by her illegal alien boyfriend. he was jealous the girls husband said. The girls husband survived by jumping out of the second story window. As he left, the boyfriend was busy killing the 20 year old wife, his own 3 month old twins and his own 2 year old girl the boyfriend fathered, the wifes sister, the wifes friend, the wifes sister and then himself. Police managed to save 2 year old girl.
Milwaukee, illegal alien beat his girl friends 2 year old daughter to death because she was crying. Lake geneva, 6 year old girl, hit and killed, by female illegal immigrant. All I can say is gee thanks Senators, we really need people in our neighborhoods.

Why are politicians trying to fix something that may not be broke ? We had good laws on the books (and well enforced until '65)in place until Sen. Kennedy decided to "improve" things. We got screwed in '65 and again in '86. If only he had received the prison sentence he so deserved......
Instead of following this mis-guided bleeding heart liberal and his companions into total economic collapse, we need to fully enforce the curent immigration laws in their strictest sense. Only then can a responsible assessment be made as to their effectiveness. Illegals, as they are found, should be immediately returned to their country of origin. Executives of companies found hiring illegals should serve mandatory prison sentences in addition to stiff monetary fines and loss of government contract participation for minimum of 5 years. Individuals found harboring illegals should also face penalties. Churches and other religious organizations involved in aiding or harboring illegals should lose their tax-free status in addition to criminal prosecution.
In the interest of Homeland Security, the fence needs to be built and secured with armed patrols authorized to use deadly force.
No public monies will be provided to, or spent on illegals. The entire cost of transporting the illegals back to country of origin will be back billed to the destination country. This will provide incentive to keep their citizens at home.
If after two years of strict immigration compliance it is found the US still requires "guest" workers, the existing immigration laws can be amended to meet those needs.
The only change that needs to be done ASAP is the birthright privilege. Only those born to LEGAL US citizens should be automatically citizens of the US.
It's a real shame our elected politicians fail to listen to their supporters. Many letters opposing S 1348 were sent to Martinez(FL)and Nelson(FL)which seemed to fall upon deaf ears. They were challenged to take these issues to a public forum of their constituents but refused. It appears there is a priority in finding a legacy for this horribly failed presidency.
NO Bill is better than a bad bill.
Isn't there any integrity left ?

I'm just LOLLing at the suggestion that a border fence is going to fix anything. Want to stop illegal immigration? Let's hold Mexico accountable for once, and make that government do right by its people, for once. Same with Central America.

Until Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico et al improve their own living conditions (and in Mexico's case, get that raging drug war under control!), then we're going to have an "immmigration problem."

I'll phrase it in soundbyte-like way so that our politicians can grasp this idea. "Help Latin America. Don't Build A Wall."

How about we stop making new laws and start enforcing the ones we already have???

Once again politicians act and react as if they dont' have the slightest clue about how to solve problems.

This Congress and government needs to exert financial pressure on Mexico to allow American citizens to own property in that country. If and when Americans can own property, we will start the migration in the OPPOSITE direction. We would bring a lot of money and jobs back to Mexico and other places.

Enforce the current laws, but more importantly GET OUT OF THE BOX.

I will vote in 2008 for the candidate who has ideas and solutions we haven't already heard or rejected.

has a illegal imigrante in this country i have to say a few words about this comments that i see ......people call us criminals !what is a criminal? Someone that come looking for a better life ? i think a criminal is someone who is a murder a person that robbes...well i have no words for what people calls us....my mother she lived here for twelve years i been here for 7 ....i just think people should treat people with respect not has some piece of trash .....please support this bill ...there 12 million people ..people with dreams,with hearts,with kids with families.....i just want a peacefull solucion...

This Bill has more holes in than than Swiss Cheese. It deserves to be dumped. Ammendments will not do the job to fix the mess this Bill is in. A fresh start is necessary without many of the provisions that are included in the Bill.

Also, there is suppose to be funding included in the Bill for additional Borded Agents. I ask, who would want to work as a Border Agent when in doing their job, dealing with a known Criminal, they end up in prison.

Illegal Aliens are CRIMINALS. Please don't compare them with people as Paris Hilton or people who jaywalk or who accelerate their car beyond the speed limit. There is no comparison to these criminals who come to this country not respecting the law

To Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Arizona: Why is this the last chance to pass an immigration reform bill??? Because we get into the "presidential/political season"???

What a crock! So you're saying that the President and Congress can do nothing except focus on getting elected for the 16 months? I have a better idea...why don't you WORK like the rest of us. We elected you to WORK not to spend all of your time and our money trying to get re-elected!

And to Tony Snow: The immigration bill could be voted on "after senators take up the energy bill"??? Can the President and Congress only do one thing at a time? Ever heard of multi-tasking? The American People do it everyday.

I understand that this is a CNN blog, but some of you need to stop only blaming the Reublicans for this bill as one of your "liberal lions" (Kennedy) and a phony Republican (McCain) are the authors of this mess.

We all can agree that us regular folks (BOTH Democrats and Republicans) are going to be the ONLY ones affected by this, as not one of these "leaders" voting on this have kids in public schools, use public hospitals or have to worry about an honest wage being earned.

Do we need 800 pages to say:

Secure the borders (1), if you can't prove you belong, bye, bye (2), go after the companies (3), make it simpler for good, hard workers who speak English to achieve the real American dream, done legally(5).

All of us but the pathetic "leaders" want this, right?

What I have yet to hear from presidential candidates, senators or the news media is how these new immigration bills affect those of us who are citizens who happen to be married to and have children with an illegal alien. I know that my wife has, in fact, paid taxes, has a legal social security number (valid for employment only) and has a valid work permit. We don't hide. As a matter of fact, whenever I get sent to a new post (I've been in the Army for 18 years) we send USCIS the required Change of Address notification. I find that as a person who supports immigration reform I am living with uncertainty now. I have told my wife to tell anyone she knows who may be considering coming up here not to do it because of the grief and heartache it will cause everyone. So, I would like to know what the politicians are going to do? Nothing as before or something feasable, reasonable and in the end achievable and beneficial for all involved. I'd like to think so.

Thsi bill needs to be benched for good. They are not building the 800 miles of fence needed and if you leave it to the politians that are in office it won't get built. this bill is amnesty pure and simple. This bill is poorly written and need not be inacted.

Senator Sessions is right. There are too too many flaws in this so-called immigration bill. In addition, how in the world will homeland security monitor anyone for anything – they can't even get the demand for needed passports right! So why would American people think Bush would or could control illegal aliens – how many does he have down there in Crawford working for him

One of you so called informed folks made the statement that we should just let all the illegals stay because they came here for a better life. What?!? Since when can we just pick and choose what laws should be obeyed in the name of a better life? Will it soon be ok to kill off your abusive husband in the name of a better life? Or not pay taxes so you can have more money for a better life? When does it stop? If the illegals were to expend half the energy at home demanding a better life that they spend here demanding rights, they could have a better life but in their own country.

Congress should proceed under the mandate of "do no harm" vrs their idea of "just do something". This bill is a shame and a direct attack on the middle class. They don't even have the guts to tell us what it will truly cost the American taxpayers. I too will remember come the next election.

Go Mr Sessions!!

As an immigrant that hardly write some English words can say
I LEFT MY OWN COUNTRY TIRED OF BEEN POOR, WAKING UP WITH NOTHING TO EAT, GOIN AT SCHOOL WITH 50 CENTAVOS (5 CENTS AMERICAN DOLLARS) NOT MORE TO BUY A BOTTLE OF WATER,
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS IDEA OF BILL WILL PROVIDE BETTER LIFE AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ILEGAL PEOPLE LIKE ME THAKS FOR READING.

I couldn't agree more Mary

To those who make the argument, "They broke the law and should be punished!", please think about what you're saying. With this thinking, you are implicitly stating that laws define morality, and therefore the government grants us our rights. This is dangerous thinking.

For an example of injustice at the hands of a law, one need not look further than the Genarlow Wilson case, where he was jailed for consensual sex with someone two years his junior, simply because there is a wacky law that calls this child molestation. There is no way you can call that justice, and therefore demonstrates that laws cannot define morality.

When you say "illegal immigrant," what do you think of? For most people, this would be a Hispanic individual, primarily a Mexican. Yet, for example, there are tens of thousands of illegal Irish immigrants (CNN did a story on it a month or two ago), and no one clamors for their deportation. Furthermore, legal American citizens of Mexican descent receive ridicule and are immediately stereotyped as illegal, and this is horrible. What kind of country are we?

Our immigration process needs to have all the red tape removed from it. Make it easy to immigrate, first off. Second, remove government benefits for illegal immigrants (I'd argue to remove it for everyone, but that's another story). If people complain that they're "stealing our jobs," then welcome to the wonderful world of competition. Stop thumbing your nose, and make something of yourself. Society, as a whole, will be better for it.

Look in the mirror, and see if the real reason you want to deport illegal immigrants is because of their origins. Because if not, then I need to see a protest against those illegal Irish immigrants too.

It is odd that European nations seem to profit from the recent migration after the EU agreements opened their borders to influx of eastern Europeans. Ireland, in particular, showcases economic growth that surpassed all expectations prior to the influx of "foreign" workers.

Despite the large demographic shift, the European countries do not seem to have overly many problems accomodating their new residents.

In the US, however, we seem to perceive even an already accomplished migration (in form of the illegals already present in the country) as a calamity upon the nation.

Moreover, the immigration laws turned the process into a lottery (literaly). A good friend is currently suffering separation from a Dutch woman he wishes to marry because she was refused entry – despite providing several bills for the wedding being arranged to the border agent that he had the forethought to fax to her. If the system is broken to such a degree, little wonder people looking to better their own life (who, incidentally, are always statistically more productive than general populance) will take risk in breaking the often ambiguous laws.

Point in case – a piece of legislation passed several years back (2003 or 2004) states that people registered by certain date of that year with the Labor Department cannot be deported as long as they pay taxes off of yearly income of $32,000.

At the same time, they were not issued work permit, or any documentation legalizing their stay. Which, correct me if I am wrong, please, means that they are required to work illegally not to be deported.

Catch 22, anybody?

One of the requirements for legalization in the process that is currently discussed on the Hill is ability to document successful payment of taxes for several years back.

The government, on yearly basis, receives a huge surpluss off of taxes from people who do not have any rights to benefits they do pay for.

Just the odd facts that seem to be completely lost in the general hysteria whenever discussing immigrants, legal or not. It seems that this discussion cannot be held without running into mob mentality mode, where completely unwarranted arguments are parrotted ad nauseum until they are held for facts.

Incidentally, yes, I am a friend of a number of illegal immigrants, and I can only hope that half of our population has such high working and personal standards as them.

ENFORCE THE CURRENT LAWS. THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANOTHER BILL.

~ENFORCE THE CURRENT LAWS. Untie the hands of local law enforcement.

~TAKE THE SUGAR OFF THE COUNTERTOP. A LONGER, WIDER, MORE FORTIFIED FENCE WILL DO NOTHING. Take away entitlements and free handouts. Take away the incentive to enter our country illegally. It's no wonder they come in droves. We reward them when they get here with a bunch of free stuff for which I, an American taxpayer, am not elligible to receive.

~PUNISH THE BUSINESSES HIRING ILLEGALS. Impose huge fines and sanctions. A slap on the wrist doesn't deter businesses from hiring illegals.

Congress needs to REPRESENT the overwhelming majority of people who agree with what I just wrote.

I think nationality is very important aspect of persons livelihood. The immigration debate in the Congress is about people who were born in countries where they can claim nationality. Worldly nationality may not be as important as eternity. Those who feel that they don't belong here should consider a more permanent and everlasting home with no worries and rules to abide to. This consideration should stop sending fears to those who live in fear of being illegally in certain territories.

12 million illegal immigrants have entered this country when securing the borders after 911 should have become an urgent priority. Many have managed to bleed our healthcare and social service system,obtain fraudulent identity, and commit crimes. We have employers who have knowingly hired illegals, worked them from sun up to darkness without consequences. What happens to a Social Security program, already on the brink of demise?
For years this fire has fueled and a comprehensive plan needs to address each of these points before the American public will buy into any bill. The current administration and congressional members have lost the confidence of the voters. Back to the drawing board guys!

This is a disgrace, the outright contempt for the opinion of the American people. We called and wrote our representatives in DC and expressed our displeasure for this hair brained scheme (I am ashamed to call it a Bill). Yet they seem to ignore the will of the people, the same people who voted them there. This American will not forget and next election I will vote out what I voted in.

Perhaps congress will do Americans a favor this summer and stay in session over the summer recess to help write a new immigration bill. But why do I think they won't. Shame on you all, democrat and republican.

Bush does need to back off this debacle of a bill. Pay $5,000 and you too can become a US citizen! Why don't they offer the same deal to Asian immigrants, European immigrants, etc...? How ludicrous! Hillary wants cheap illegal votes. Bush wants cheap illegal labor and Feinstein in California wants BOTH!!!!
I hope the all American citizens stand-up, call their senators and are counted this time:). Say NO to the North American Alliance – We will get Mexico's poor while Mexico has nationalized oil!! – So, it will be screw the US once again.

maybe the AMERICAN business owners that continue to offer jobs to the illegal people that cross the border should start to follow the letter of the law. Business' that hire undocumented workers to save a buck are the root cause of this issue, not immigrants breaking the law. The people crossing the border are just trying to make the lives of their families better. Closing the borders goes against what our country was founded on. We need to hold business owners accountable. As usual this administration is trying to put a band aid on a wound that needs many stitches.

Anyone who supports the Immigration Bill as it is currently written is an ill-informed/naive moron. The majority of these ILLEGAL aliens are uneducated/low skilled workers. That means once they gain legal status they will be a drain on our resources for generations to come. As far as the low paying work that Americans will not do, I say let the welfare leaches do it. For the ILLEGALS, send them home…NOW!!! They can apply like everyone else. Also, all you liberal Democrats and rhino Repuplican supporters of this bill can join them in O’Mexico.

Letting the immigration bill pass as is, will send a clear to World and those countries just south of our border. That message is if you can make it into the US illegally and are able to avoid being caught for six to eight years, you will eventually get citizenship in the US. I am an immigrant was came to the US LEGALLY. Those who go through the legal process and wait for their fair chance are being cheated people that are committing illegal acts. If you commit a crime you should face the consequences, not be rewarded for it. There aren't any answer for stopping future illegal crossing. Any future legislation should first focus on that part of the problem. Then we can address the issue of what to do with those who broke the law. I shudder to think where I would be if I was deined my lawful ability to come to the US and be a productive tax paying citizen. Everyone points to the families that are broken up by sending illegal aliens back. I ask them to consider all the families being denied their fair opportunity to legally contribute to this great nation.

Bush should leave well enough alone. I hope that the Senators will listen to the American People, they do not want AMNESTY for people breaking our laws and continue to do so, they want this Government to enforce the immigration laws already on the books, and that includes fining all Business People hiring these illegals heavily. Then they will have to go home, if there are no jobs..........June/Penna.

Lame duck Bush should back off. Now that the amnesty bill has failed congress should now redirect its efforts to having strong border enforcement and rounding up and deporting the illegals that are already here. The people have made it clear – enforce the laws we already have. Bush's special interest, big business buddies will just have to face the fact that they can no longer undercut wages to American workers by the back door route so that some executives can get their ridiculously bloated bonuses for saving money on labor. The amnesty bill was a disaster at best. No amount of new window dressing will change that.

Legal, skilled immigrants have been given a very raw deal by the senators in favor of illegal immigrants and those with family ties in this "compromise" immigration bill. Please visit http://immigrationvoice.org to have a better understanding of our plight.

We pay ALL the taxes that citizens pay: social security, Medicare tax, property tax….you name it. Since IRS considers us permanent residents for tax purposes we enjoy taxation without representation for 10+years.

There are hundreds of thousands of higher skilled, highly educated professors, doctors, scientists, high tech workers who have been languishing in legal limbo for 5-8 years due to huge green card backlogs. These legal immigrants contribute to the US economy and make America competitive in this era of globalization. This "Comprehensive" immigration reform (CIR) proposes very little or nothing to clear these huge back logs. Instead, it proposes to punish the legal immigrants by REDUCING the number of available green cards for employment based immigration. In the new "merit" based system illegals would get points for ...let's say owning a house!!!

American citizens would decide what should be done with illegal immigrants. We have no grudges against them. For us it is a question of justice and fair play. . People who broke the laws would get a Z visa in 24 hours. This Z visa is a de-facto instant green card since it would allow the beneficiary to work for any employer without any restriction or labor certification. Whereas, the legal immigrants after going through tortuous paper work for several years are unable to change employers for 8- 10 years because of the green card backlogs.

Finally, the bill dramatically boosts Family migration while IGNORING people ALREADY living and working in this country. This is again due to vote bank politics, not to establish justice.

I hope American public understands the unfairness of this all.

No educated American with an annual income less than $200k wants what Bush wants.

I remember when "made in America" meant something. When American jobs were important. When America was important.

What's important now, that some shareholder in Dubai makes a profit? that some person in India gets a telemarketing job formerly worked by an American?

Quite frankly, I couldn't care less if China and India prosper. If average Americans have to borrow home equity to keep up with the Jones, they are not prospering. They are living a lie.

Thanks Republican Party!

If anyone should back-off it is Senator Sessions that ought go back to Alabama check out who's building all of the houses and taking care of his neighbor's landscape. Its not tax paying workers, but taxpayers are paying for their schools and medical costs....so lets get some tax revenue in the door. These people are going to come anyway.

The Bush-Kennedy Bill was more porous than our borders. It is easy to see why there is a perception of amnesty. If it passed unamended it would be another "Mission Accomplished." The Senate should "huddle their masses" and amend the bill until they improve and pass it.

Your comment has no sense at all:

" The current group of illegals can stay that way because they knew when they broke our laws that they would have to live underground; so be it! You reap what you sow. I don’t feel bad or guilty about that as an American Citizen. Stop all the support for these illegals (social welfare and education, jobs) that I am tired of paying for and they will, through attrition go back to their home country, die, or just continue to live illegally. "

They just came for better life !!
They are human, and they are social power in our communities. You can not ask people to die in thier lives !!!

You should wish people the best, and you should forgive

Most of them are Latino Christians, and I don't think they will cause harm to your socity

The laws some times can be broken, but you can't punish people for ever

Many can not go back home for many reasons

The bill will make them pay for their mistake in breaking the law !!

Those are big working power, may be the will work better than you and improve your economy

As the President said: " This bill for the sake of Ameriaca, don't kill the bill !! "

Over 800,000 Veteran claims tied up in red tape! Undersecretary Daniel L. Cooper says the number is too great to come up with an answer to fix it. And we the American people are to believe that our government can ensure 12-20 million will be worked out in a honest way?

It seems neither party wants to go after the employers. Democrats want cheap votes, and Republicans want cheap labor. And the American middle class will pay for it.

Sessions needs to "back-off." As a 2-bit legislator from the "Heart of Dixie," Sessions is doing nothing more than defending the status quo of a permanent underclass that supples cheap labor to business. Is it surprising that 170 years after the abolition of slavery that there are still those who are arguing the need to subjugate a class of workers to a status that exploits them?

Instead of making the presently stalled Immigration Bill an actuality, which can then be amended, this 'senator' castigates the President, and thereby causes the best bill to come along since the 1980's to die in spite of his own party leadership wanting the bill to pass. Maybe he thinks that he is doing the 'will of his constituents' but he is not doing the will of this constituent. Arrogance is belittling, and Mr. Sessions seems to be nothing but arrogant in his 'demands for what he perceives as something that he can not create, but tear down instead'.
His brand of politics is what give 'politics' such a bad name.

As the wife of a legal immigrant, I have no sympathy for the people who come here illegally to essentially steal the American dream. I am sick of watching all of these politicians who are completely disconnected from the American people devoting time, money and consideration towards millions of criminals who came here without authorization. As a citizen I've done what I can; I've written my Senators and Representatives, I have gone to protests and I have done all that I can to express my voice of opposition as an American. We are facing a crisis and Washington is doing nothing but entertaining the thought of enabling millions of criminals and rewarding their lawlessness with opportunity, which is a gut punch to every law abiding immigrant who made a good faith effort to come here legally. It's disgusting what is going on in Washington, and when it comes time for elections I will remember the actions of my elected representatives.

I totally agree with the above comment. First and foremost, BUILD THE FENCE NOW!!!!! The proposed immigration bill should NOT be "PUSHED" through, a bad bill is just that, BAD. Anything that "HAS" to be "PUSHED" through cries of "oily snakes". These people whom chose to ILLEGALLY CROSS OUR BORDER, have broken our laws, and we give them a pathway to citizenship???? HOGWASH. ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS NOW

This bill has a bad foundation. Amendments won't fix that. What it really needs is more provisions and hoops. Maybe another 100 pages or so. It is time for some house cleaning in the Senate.

"Next year it’s not going to be possible,” Kyl said.

It's amazing that we accept this from our elected representatives. I realize their salary is but a small part of the money they are raking in from book deals, speaking engagements, (lobbyists), etc.... But, shouldn't we at least cut their salary if they tell us they can't accomplish anything productive next year. Civic responsibility has been reduced to rooting for your favorite team. It's okay to miss votes on key legislation or attempt to deal with major issues because it's a rebuilding year. Politicians have somehow convinced us that it's all good as long as your party wins! I don't have a party and feel like I'm losing my country! Maybe some beer and fireworks on July 4th will make me feel better.

Please just enforce the current immigration bill. If we'd done that since 1980's, the time of the last immigration amnesty, we would not have these problems now.

What about the 800 miles of fencing Congress approved last year? I bet precious little has been done about that. Congress is a group of liars and I do not trust them as far as I can throw them.

The current group of illegals can stay that way because they knew when they broke our laws that they would have to live underground; so be it! You reap what you sow. I don't feel bad or guilty about that as an American Citizen. Stop all the support for these illegals (social welfare and education, jobs) that I am tired of paying for and they will, through attrition go back to their home country, die, or just continue to live illegally.

Change our immigration laws to make it a felony to cross and stay in the country with permission and do the right thing by the American people who are paying for all of this mess.