Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate Passes AMNESTY Immigration Bill

Men rest on a railway track as they travel to the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, hoping to cross into the United States, May 5, 2006. A sweeping immigration law overhaul that would toughen border security and give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to earn U.S. citizenship headed for Senate passage on Thursday and backers prepared for a bruising battle with the House of Representatives.

Reuters: Senate passes sweeping immigration overhaul

The U.S. Senate on Thursday easily passed an immigration overhaul that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens, as supporters braced for a bruising battle with the House of Representatives.

The Senate voted 62-36 for the bipartisan bill that couples border security and enforcement with a guest worker program that would put most of the 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to U.S. citizenship.

It is the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades and Senate legislation has to be merged with a vastly different House bill that calls for tough border security and enforcement measures.
President George W. Bush has said he supports a comprehensive approach to immigration reform along the lines passed by the Senate, but lawmakers acknowledged they still had more work to do.

The Senate passed an “AMNESTY” immigration bill with GOP help.

Michelle Malkin calls it an AMNESTY BILL.

Vote was 62-36.

Here’s the lowdown.

Any hope now rests with the House.

Start here.

Now, the devil really is in the details.

Does the Senate immigration bill essentially give Mexico veto power over our border fences? Hearing this from several readers and sources. Reader Greg writes:

Senator Cornyn gave Lou Dobbs a statement saying the last-minute Amendment SA 41[8]8 says Mexico must be consulted before any fence is constructed.

From F/R thread:

I heard this on Sean Hannity’s Fox Radio broadcast a short while ago and just now on “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on CNN:Arlen Specter, according to Congressman John Kyl of Arizona, slipped a provision into the Immigration Bill the Senate passed today requiring the U.S. to consult with Mexico BEFORE building a wall in any area along the border.

I’m checking into it. If anyone has more specific info, please send along. Update: It’s Dem Sen. Chris Dodd’s amendment included in Specter’s manager’s package that passed.

The Senate by Cboldt blog reports.

Good Grief.

The House is our only hope to defeat amnesty for illegal aliens.

Remember:

NOT ONE DIME NOR ONE VOTE!