Senate kills amendment that would require borders are secure before other provisions in Senate bill take effect

May 17, 2006

The U.S. Senate yesterday voted against securing the border before implementing provisions that would grant citizenship to millions of illegal aliens and would double the flow of legal immigration.

The amendment the Senate defeated would have delayed the 'amnesty' and guest-worker provisions in its comprehensive immigration-reform bill until the border had been successfully secured. A majority of Democrats, 36 of 44, along with 18 Republicans and the chamber's lone independent killed the amendment.

Earlier, Bush said he would not accept any bill from Congress that does not include a guest-worker program and a provisions to grant citizenship to at least some of the estimated 10 million to 12 million illegal aliens already in the country.

Polls show that Americans don't trust the federal government to secure the border and overwhelmingly want Congress and the administration to stem the flow of illegal aliens pouring over the border each day before tackling other aspects of immigration reform.

Only the House, which last year approved a border security-only bill, stands in the way of a 'comprehensive' reform at the moment.

The Senate did, however, approve an amendment to cap the guest-worker program at 200,000 new workers each year.

Those favoring tougher immigration laws also applauded a compromise reached last night that would bar illegal aliens who are convicted felons from obtaining citizenship. Senators finally agreed to language that would bar citizenship to felons, people convicted of three misdemeanors, or anyone who had ignored a court order to leave the U.S.

Said Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss: 'I do not see how any senator who is serious about border security and enforcing our immigration laws can disagree with a delay. To disagree with this amendment sends the message to the American people that we are more eager to give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship than we are to secure our borders from further illegal immigration and the smuggling of illegal drugs and weapons.'