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Plan could jail illegal border crossers
2007-05-23
Democrats are seeking to slash the number of foreign workers who could come to the U.S. on temporary visas as the Senate prepares for another day of freewheeling debate over a bipartisan immigration measure. A Republican proposal to crack down on illegal border crossers with mandatory prison sentences also was to be discussed Wednesday, as leaders in both parties sought to alter elements of the broad agreement that are drawing criticism from their core supporters. The measure would toughen border security, give quick legal status to the estimated 12 million immigrants in the country unlawfully and create a new workplace verification system to bar undocumented workers from getting jobs. It would create a point system for future immigration applicants that would place less emphasis on family connections and more on education and skills in demand by U.S. businesses. Republicans, responding to conservative criticism that the measure is too lenient, were considering efforts to bolster its security provisions and make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to get on a path to citizenship. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who helped craft the immigration deal, was expected to offer the border security amendment. Democrats, hearing criticism from labor unions and immigrant groups on the guest worker program, were focusing on shrinking or otherwise altering it. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., was seeking to cap the number of annual visas available for temporary workers at 200,000. A similar amendment passed the Senate last year by an overwhelming margin. As currently crafted, the temporary worker plan would allow up to 600,000 workers -- largely unskilled, nonagricultural laborers in areas such as construction, landscaping and meatpacking -- to stay for up to three two-year stints, provided they left the United States for a year between each stay. A Democratic attempt to strip the program altogether failed Tuesday in the first major test of the fragile immigration compromise. Democrats also are planning attempts to ensure that more visas would be available for family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens. The coalition of conservatives, liberals and centrists who worked out the White House-backed deal are struggling to keep it intact. Senate leaders in both parties, however, say it's important to have a wide-ranging debate on the measure. They have postponed a final vote until June. "There's good and bad in this," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said of the bill. "That's what amending the legislation is all about -- trying to improve it."
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