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| Border town migrants hail Senate vote |
| 2006-05-26 |
| Migrants preparing to sneak into U.S. territory said they were encouraged that immigration reform had cleared the Senate Thursday, expressing hope that the measure allowing them to work legally and gain U.S. citizenship would soon be enacted. But they seemed determined to cross the Rio Grande, with or without help from Washington. "I think they finally realized that they need us," said Antonio Ortiz, a 31-year-old from El Salvador who was trying to get back to Austin, Texas, where he worked construction jobs before being deported in March. "Everyone who goes there finds work." Ortiz said he swam across the Rio Grande into Laredo, Texas, Thursday morning only to be captured by the U.S. Border Patrol and sent back to Mexico. He said his plan was to slip into American territory and then hope legislation allowing him to simply pay a fine and remain there legally would become law. The bill giving millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship passed the U.S. Senate late Thursday 62-36 in a bipartisan compromise. Next come tough negotiations with the House of Representatives, which passed a bill focused on border security that would make all illegal immigrants subject to felony charges, rather than merely civil deportation procedures. Oscar Martinez, 32, said he arrived at the banks of the Rio Grande after more than three weeks of jumping trains that took him from his native El Salvador through Mexico. "I don't think the majority of the people in the United States only see the negative side" of immigration, said Martinez, who worked as a welder in Virginia in 2004. "I think the program is going to benefit thousands of families and also the United States." Martinez said he was determined to cross despite heightened border security, but he also said the prospect of a more-dangerous crossing might make him think twice. "I'm not going to risk my life," Martinez said. "I have kids." Traveling in California, Mexican President Vicente Fox said the Senate vote made Thursday "truly a day of happiness, a historic day." He said it was up to Mexico and the United States to ensure "security and flexibility on an intelligent border that guarantees us tranquility, security and peace." The Senate bill was "undoubtedly a victory" for the Fox administration, said Jorge Castaneda, who resigned as Fox's foreign secretary in January 2003. The bill calls for a new guest worker program that would admit 200,000 individuals a year. Once in the United States, they would be permitted for the first time to petition on their own for a green card that confers legal permanent residency, a provision designed to reduce the potential for exploitation by employers. Under one proposal, migrants who have been in the U.S. for less than seven years would have to return to their homeland to apply, while those who have been in the country for longer could remain. "If they allow you to be there a while to work and also allow you to return to your country to see your family — that would be a good option," said Christopher Guzman, a 21-year-old Honduran who was trying to get to Ohio. But "if they don't give me anything, we're going to continue as (illegal) migrants, we're going to keep trying." Guzman said he was trying to cross before National Guard troops arrived to the border next week. And Jorge Bilia, a 36-year-old bus driver from El Salvador, said he has no other choice but to get to the U.S. to try to give his four children a better life: "Only if they put up an electric fence will it stop someone." |
| Posted by:ed |
| #19 Yep. Consider who takes over some rather important congressional committees next time you get a hairball about the Pubs not meeting your personal private Schedule of What's Important. House ----- Government Reform - Henry Waxman International Relations - Tom Lantos Judiciary - John Conyers Ways and Means - Charles Rangel Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence - Jane Harman Senate ------ Appropriations - Robert Byrd Armed Services - Carl Levin Foreign Relations - Joe Biden Judiciary - Pat Leahy Select Committee on Intelligence - John D Rockefeller Consider the damage that can, and would, be done in just 2 years. It doesn't get any stupider than shooting everyone else between the eyes because you're impatient and have an itch between your |
| Posted by: Cromolet Phavish7868 2006-05-26 21:42 |
| #18 The problem with "voting the Repuglycon jerks out" is that the dummycritters will likely win in their place - and they're the majority that believe that amnesty and open borders are "just fine". There aren't a lot of good choices out there. It's either find someone you can trust and herd them through the primaries, or find some other way to get rid of the deadwood. A chain saw strikes me as being one good solution. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-05-26 21:39 |
| #17 All we have to do is financially support anyone running against those who supported the "Wetbacks can keep their SS even though it's on my SSN" bill when they come up for election in 2008 or 2010. That kind of spanking would change American politics for decades to come. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-05-26 14:02 |
| #16 Here's how they voted, if anyone's curious. I already know how my two clowns went... [mod note: please link your material. Not doing it screws up the formatting.] |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-05-26 12:06 |
| #15 Hmmmm! I'm wondering if it was the Water+Tree of Liberty+Blood of Internal Traitors/Tyrants remark that tripped the filters? Oh well...I shall moderate my comments a little better myself. -M |
| Posted by: Manolo 2006-05-26 11:42 |
| #14 Not even 'ALLAN' messes with Rant Moderators. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-05-26 11:33 |
| #13 Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean the moderators not out to get you. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-05-26 11:32 |
| #12 Dunno, thinks it's some kind of keywords thingie, it has happened to me a coupe of time, or perhaps it's just a fluke. I don't think the mods are on a Jihad(Tm) after you. |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-05-26 11:21 |
| #11 Great...so my previous post/question gets through, but when I tried to post the Senate Vote on the Immigration Reform Act I get sent to Roadside America??? Moderators, care to explain? -M |
| Posted by: Manolo 2006-05-26 11:13 |
| #10 Why do I go to Roadside America when I try to post? Who's panties are in a wad? |
| Posted by: Manolo 2006-05-26 11:12 |
| #9 Just read that Jimmy Carter thinks it's a great idea too. So it must be a great idea. Right? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-05-26 10:01 |
| #8 CrazyFool - you're right (why am I agreeing with someone who calls themselves 'CrazyFool'?) Anyway, in November, the voters get to return the favor. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2006-05-26 09:25 |
| #7 Fire up the generators. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-05-26 09:20 |
| #6 Send washington to Mexico. They seem so enthralled with it anyway. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-05-26 09:15 |
| #5 "Only if they put up an electric fence will it stop someone." Well, Jorge...that's not a bad idea. No wait...that would comprimise your rights. And with the last minute Spector ammendment the Mexican Govt. would have to allow the US to do it. Nevermind...keep trying...besides, like you say...you have "no other choice". |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-05-26 08:38 |
| #4 So the wetbacks think it's a great idea, Fox thinks it's a great idea, Ted Kennedy thinks it's a great idea. So it must be a great idea. Right? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-05-26 08:36 |
| #3 DMFD - The Senate doesn't give a shit about US Voters - this Amnesty program proves it. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-05-26 08:20 |
| #2 I just wrote George Bush a long letter telling him that his immigration policy was a disaster that was going to send the Republicans back into the political wilderness for a long time. For the last two years every Republican fundraiser who has called me has been told that until the Republicans bluntly agree to stop illegal immigration they can forget about receiving one dime of my money. The selective enforcement of the laws is destroying what is left of America. It's terribly sad to know that, when it comes to politics, my money would be better spent buying guns, ammunition and provisions. |
| Posted by: mac 2006-05-26 07:44 |
| #1 Though US voters had a slightly different view. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2006-05-26 00:12 |