Battle over U.S. immigration bill looms in Congress

This will be enjoyable to watch. Only the far right opposes a path to citizenship - polls show solid majorities overall support some type of legalization, even among Republicans. It will only happen, though, if enough Republicans ignore all the tea party bluster and decide that short-term pain from the base is well worth dealing with in order to give the party a chance to at least begin repairing relations with Latinos at a time when demographic realities are looking extremely daunting over the long term - and this is not to mention business groups.

If the GOP screws this up (and there is still a significant chance that they will), they will have screwed themselves up for a generation.

How many trillion of dollars will be needed to fix this problem, and will it solve the problem one and for all ? It is a very complex and regional integrated issues for U.S. to bear the burden. How about learning from Japan of this issue, and by modifying the law to meet constitutional requirement? Well, there are too many special interest groups in D.C!

Only the far right opposes a path to citizenship

@ Laguana: Those polls can be misleading depending on who did the survey. Believe it or not, not all Americans want to just give amnesty to the millions who are there.

On a personal note, I have had to jump through all the hoops to get my spouse the proper documentation to become a legal alien in the US. I've paid the fees, show proof of employment, and even had to sign a document that I will not get on any public assistance for my spouse when we get back to the States. So now, why do all of these people who didn't go through the process get to get in for free? What about the millions who are trying to do it the right way? Why reward law breakers.

As far as America needing the so called "high skilled" workers, how many college graduates will be available during the next few weeks? You mean that someone from outside the US is not smart enough to do those jobs, yet we have many of the so called illegals who are in the US on student visa overstays who will get amnesty. If the US universities are only producing people who have "high self esteem" but no real valuable knowledge, then why so many student visa overstays in the US?

I say go back and redo this and take out all of the special interest items from both sides, and secure the border. It has nothing to do with being anti Hispanic or whatever the race or country, but just doing right by those of all races who call themselves American citizens.

My spouse and I did it the right way - if this path to citizenship BS goes through I will be steamed. At the minimum, those that reside in the US illegally should be made to register with the government and return at least for a day at their own expense to their home country. When they return, they can be considered legal but should never be allowed the opportunity for citizenship (unless they return home, apply legally and wait their turn). The only exception would be for the children of illegal immigrants. Legal residency is the most that they should be granted. Besides, most are only here for the jobs anyway - they don't necessarily want to change their nationality. Democrats just want more impoverished voters to vote for their collapsing welfare state.

those that reside in the US illegally should be made to register with the government and return at least for a day at their own expense to their home country. When they return, they can be considered legal but should never be allowed the opportunity for citizenship

Sourest, most unpleasant post I've ever read on this site. Hope you never find yourself in need of a bit of empathy and kindness.

I'm hoping the Republicans shoot themselves in the foot....again.

Sourest, most unpleasant post I've ever read on this site. Hope you never find yourself in need of a bit of empathy and kindness.

@ lucabrasi: Only if he is in a place like Mexico or Japan. You should read up on the plight of the illegal immigrants from Central America and how they are treated in Mexico, or the requirement that Spanish is the official language for dealing with the government in Mexico, or that foreigners can't own property in places like Mexico or Japan and you will see that children of illegals as well as illegals themselves get far more sympathy than any place in the world. What Wolfpack and others who are against the current form of the bill are not cold and heartless. What's cold and heartless is people bringing children into a situation that they know will put them at a further disadvantage in another country. It is not unfair to ask people to come into a country in a legal manner.

Immigrants who HAVE navigated the labyrinthian process of legally obtaining residence and/or citizenship, and paid the fees, should be the most upset if some amnesty is shoved through.

Labor unions will likely strongly oppose any easing, just to preserve their protectionist policies.

I support easing the legal process already in place, but those who are presently illegally in the country should not get a free pass.

Free passes, no. A realistic, humane, way of addressing the issue, yes, please.

Meanwhile, gay-rights activists want the legislation to allow U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents to sponsor their same-sex partners for residency.

Including such an amendment ''will virtually guarantee that it (the bill) won't pass" the Senate, said Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, one of the eight senators who wrote the legislation.

Okay. Why?

According to a Reuters poll, a majority of US citizens believe most or all of the illegals living in the US should be deported.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/21/us-usa-immigration-idUSBRE91K01A20130221

"Thirty percent of those polled think that most illegal immigrants, with some exceptions, should be deported, while 23 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be deported."

"Only 5 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States legally, and 31 percent want most illegal immigrants to stay."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/most_oppose_citizenship_for_children_of_illegal_immigrants

"Most Americans still oppose granting U.S. citizenship automatically to children born in America to illegal immigrants."

http://www.fairus.org/facts/immigration-and-terrorism-polls

"79% (vs. 10%) say the military should be used along the border with Mexico to protect American citizens if drug- related violence continues to grow in that area."

"58% think that immigration should be decreased. (USA Today/CNN/Gallup, Oct. 2001)"

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/nationally_60_favor_letting_local_police_stop_and_verify_immigration_status

"Nationally, 60% Favor Letting Local Police Stop and Verify Immigration Status"

Yes, that's the same as the "hated" Arizona law which allows police to go up to people ask for proof of citizenship.

It is not only the "far right". Regular joe Americans have opinions on this too, even if not everyone agrees with them.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/most_oppose_citizenship_for_children_of_illegal_immigrants

Sorry that URL didn't go correctly.

a majority of US citizens believe most or all of the illegals living in the US should be deported

In a country where the majority of citizens are there because their ancestors came from somewhere else without benefit of visa, immigration or any other kind of law, or who were granted their immigration status by the same, it seems a bit kettle-and-pottish to complain about the legal status of others who came later.

it seems a bit kettle-and-pottish to complain about the legal status of others who came later.

These people are criminals. It is not kettle and pottish to complain about people who KNEW that laws were in place and that they were about to commit a crime, and decided to do so anyway. If the original migrants came at a time when there was no immigration laws, they did not commit a crime. If those laws were enacted at that time, they would be criminals just the same. And there is good reason for immigration laws, just as there are for laws against theft or murder. A country that cannot controls its own borders will not last long.

If the original migrants came at a time when there was no immigration laws, they did not commit a crime.

Many of the people who are doing all the complaining about present-day illegal immigrants are descendants of those who came and massacred/stole land from/gave diseased blankets to the original migrants. But because there was no written law against shooting Injuns, it was OK?

That is the danger of immigration. Be nice too welcoming to immigrants, end up on a reservation.