Congress drops felony provision from immigration bill

[Charlie Brown]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/11/immigration/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Republican leaders of the House and Senate have agreed to drop efforts to make entering the United States illegally a felony, hoping to jump-start legislation to overhaul the U.S. immigration system.

The provision has become a lightning rod for protesters in massive demonstrations against illegal immigration restrictions, like those Monday that drew hundreds of thousands of people in dozens of American cities large and small.

The felony measure is part of an immigration reform bill the GOP-controlled House of Representatives passed in December.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday evening, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist tried to blame House Democrats for the felony provision, noting that Democrats voted overwhelmingly against an amendment that would have reduced minimum sentences for illegal entry to 6 months.

[derby378]

1. What the hell took them so long?

Sheesh.

[rodeodance]

4. simple--they want the Hispanic vote

[rodeodance]

5. But I hope the Hispanics have LONG memories come November!

[Gman]

17. Too late now

While not as dramatic, just as the GOP lost the Black vote for at least a generation because of Katrina, this will cost the GOP hispanic votes for at least a few years to come.

[Frances]

2. CNN says that Sensenbrenner is a DEMOCRAT!

<<The House bill, pushed by Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Democrat, also calls for building 700 miles of security fence along the Mexican border and would make assisting illegal immigrants a felony, as well.>>

Anyone else notice this error. Sensenbrenner is a REPUBLICAN.

[Charlie Brown]

3. I couldn't believe that

At first I thought it was a different Sensenbrenner, then I realized it was a fudge.

That's a pretty big goof for CNN.

[genieroze]

6. Hum CNN trying to skew the latino vote by claiming Dem's want to build a

fence? Real shrewed CNN.

[rodeodance]

7. BARF

[rodeodance]

8. ok--lets all send a memo to CNN

[rodeodance]

9. contact cnn here about the stupid error

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?4

[burrowowl]

12. Done

CNN is very very sloppy!
Geography, etc.
Wonder WHY!?!
:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

16. i am from WI and to say Sennenbrenner is a dem is just plain....!!!! and

I let them know it! dag, that made me angry!

[rodeodance]

10. Pelosi is on their case here (more)

.....The final bill passed the House 239-182, with only 36 Democrats supporting the measure. (Watch the politics of immigration -- 2:28)

Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, said Republicans "are feeling the heat" after demonstrations that brought out hundreds of thousands of protesters in 39 states on Monday.

Organizers said 500,000 attended a protest in Washington and 200,000 turned out in Phoenix, Arizona, though police provided no official crowd estimates. (Full story)

"No amount of spin can change the fact that Republicans wrote and passed the Sensenbrenner bill, which criminalizes an entire population," Crider said. "The bill is beyond repair."

[rodeodance]

15. says repuggies are "are feeling the heat"

[rodeodance]

11. and Frist tried to blame the Dems. Gawd--the man is impossible!

Bill Frist tried to blame House Democrats for the felony provision, noting that Democrats voted overwhelmingly against an amendment that would have reduced minimum sentences for illegal entry to 6 months.

[merwin]

13. Uh, I thought Dems were in the minority?

[rodeodance]

14. Frist can place blame like no one I know.

[951-Riverside]

18. They could have made it felony to exploi.... errr employee illegals

They didn't have to tack on the part that criminalize ANYONE who helps illegals but its not like we're ever not going to see any bills forcing Nike to pay American wages to their under-aged slav... employees in indonesia either.

[antiblazer]

19. Repukes are FLIP FLOPPING

[DeepModem Mom]

20. AP: GOP Chiefs (Hastert, Frist) Don't Want Immigrants Charged (as felons)

GOP Chiefs Don't Want Immigrants Charged
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The two top Republicans in Congress, confronted with internal party divisions as well as large public demonstrations, said Tuesday they intend to pass immigration legislation that does not subject illegal aliens to prosecution as felons.

A written statement by House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, did not say whether they would seek legislation subjecting illegal immigrants to misdemeanor prosecution or possibly a civil penalty such as a fine.

"It remains our intent to produce a strong border security bill that will not make unlawful presence in the United States a felony," the two men said. An estimated 11 million men, women and children are in the United States illegally.

The Republican-controlled House passed legislation late last year that is generally limited to border security measures. It makes illegal immigrants subject to felony prosecution.

Senate efforts to write a broader bill - covering border security, a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million in the country illegally - are gridlocked with lawmakers on a two-week vacation....

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IMMIGRATION?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-04-11-21-12-45

[fasttense]

21. This bill was just inhumane. But if I hear again

that it criminalize immigrants I think my head will explode. What a right wing spin that got. How can you criminalize people who are already criminals?

When will people learn that to lump legal and illegal immigrants into one group is to smack the hard working immigrant, the back bone of our society, in the face. Immigrants are not criminals. Illegal immigrants are criminals and they know it.

Let's see people break the law and get into this country illegally and stay for years and years while living on the fringes of society. Aren't they already criminals? Didn't they decide to become criminals when they decided to break US law and remain here for years and years?

The legal immigrant must hate it when they are told they are on par with illegals as this spin implies.

[Bridget Burke]

23. Why do you find the bill inhumane when illegal = criminal?

Why shouldn't "criminals" be made "felons"?

Misdemeanors are less serious & do not necessarily brand the guilty as Criminal. In fact, some of your Criminals might only get a free trip back to Mexico. What a waste of Your Tax Dollar!

Be consistent, now!

[sadiesworld]

22. "The provision has become a lightning rod..."

How about "the provision was DESIGNED to become a lightning rod"? It was crucial to getting the Catholic Church involved.

The coordination between government, business, church and media has been absolutely terrifying on this issue.