Tighter Border First; Immigration Later
I do not understand why the illegal immigrants would get fined and not the employers? BTW how would you even figure out the fine?This should tell you right away both sides are selling out to the companies wanting tax payer subsidized labor at the expense of blue collar workers.
AJC-WASHINGTON — The Bush administration and key senators are struggling to agree on draft legislation to secure the U.S.-Mexico border before putting millions of illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship that could take 13 years.
Even then, immigrants would have to leave the country and pay large fines before gaining legal status.
Officials familiar with the discussions say that despite concessions by both Republicans and Democrats, a final agreement may not come before the Senate opens debate on the issue next week — if at all.
Still, the outlines of a possible deal have taken shape in almost daily secret talks attended by two members of President Bush’s Cabinet. As contemplated, the proposal would bar undocumented immigrants from gaining legal status until the administration beefs up border security and implements a high-tech identification system for temporary workers. The same trigger would apply to new immigrants seeking temporary visas as guest workers. Such measures are expected to take up to two years
