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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Senate Votes to Bar Immigrant Felons, Build Fencing (Update2) May 17 (Bloomberg) -- The Senate today agreed to exclude as many as 500,000 criminal aliens from a plan that would give undocumented immigrants legal status in the U.S., while approving the construction of 350 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The proposals are amendments to an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy that would also strengthen border security and create a new guest-worker program. The Senate voted 99-0 to accept an amendment by Republicans John Cornyn of Texas and Jon Kyl of Arizona to bar felons, repeat offenders and other criminal aliens from gaining legal status under a provision to give many of the 11 million immigrants illegally in the U.S. a path to citizenship. ``We don't want people who are convicted felons, guilty of crimes, to be eligible for citizenship in this country,'' Arizona Republican John McCain said. ``At the same time we didn't want to go too far.'' The amendment by Republican Senator Jeff Sessions to build 350 miles of fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the Mexican border was approved by vote of 83-16. ``It sends a signal that open border days are over,'' Sessions said before the vote. ``Good fences make good neighbors.'' More Fences Senator Ted Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, objected to the proposal because it would lead to even more fences. ``That's the down-payment for fencing the whole border,'' he said. Immigration-rights activists plan a rally of about 10,000 people on the National Mall in Washington later today to urge Congress to give undocumented immigrant workers a chance to become U.S. citizens, said Jaime Contreras, president of the National Capital Immigration Coalition, an advocacy group. President George W. Bush, in a prime-time televised address on Monday, said he favors ``comprehensive'' legislation with the same elements that the Senate is debating. To strengthen border security, Bush said he will send 6,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist the Border Patrol. Yesterday, the Senate blocked an amendment that would have struck the guest-worker proposal and approved one reducing the number of guest-worker visas for foreigners to 200,000 per year. Other amendments the Senate is likely to consider would require employers to advertise jobs to Americans before foreign employees can gain permanent residency, call for additional fencing along the border and make English the nation's official language. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, has said the Senate will complete work on the measure by the end of the month. Legislation passed by the Senate will have to be reconciled with a House measure passed last year that focuses on border security and doesn't address a work program or legalization of undocumented immigrants. To contact the reporter on this story: Nicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net Last Updated: May 17, 2006 15:20 EDT
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: Zipporah (#0)
BUT!!!! They'll end up giving amnesty to 20 million illegals. Trust me, it's coming.
#2. To: TommyTheMadArtist (#1)
yep... this is all smoke and mirrors..
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