Senate Votes to Deny Amnesty to Criminal Illegal Aliens
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James Joyner | Wednesday, May 17, 2006 |
The Senate has agreed to exclude illegal aliens who have been convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors (in addition to violating immigration law, presumably) from getting a fast track to citizenship.
The Senate voted Wednesday to exclude illegal immigrants convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors from a chance at remaining in the United States under what critics say is an amnesty program. The unanimous vote on an amendment that before Easter had been considered a “poison pill” provided added momentum for broad immigration bill that would give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants and put many of them on a path toward citizenship.
The amendment by two of the bill’s leading opponents, Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas, was softened Tuesday in negotiations with the legislation’s supporters. The sponsors agreed to include exceptions for hardship cases and those who didn’t know a deportation order had been issued for them, winning the additional support. “We want to keep those who could harm us, the criminal element, out,” said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., one of the authors of the bill. “Those who could benefit us ought to remain.”
That denying citizenship to convicted felons was considered a “poison pill” is rather astounding. Even Teddy Kennedy acknowledges that we don’t need to import any extra criminals.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Shouldn't Teddy Kennedy actually be a convicted felon?
Most odd. There is no argument that I can think of that would state that felons ought to be given a path to citizenship.
Nah, Teddy just doesn't want the competition...
:-)
Perhaps it was a poison pill if you assume the House bill that made it a felony to be in the country illegally was passed? It's the only thing I can think of...
I question why anyone who chooses to break our laws deserves a fast track to anything other than a trip home. No jobs, no services, and no place to stay. What we have is a civil invasion of our country. Justification. It use to be part of Mexico. Wrong. When Mexico was controlled by Spain was the southwest part of Mexico. Not before, or after.
Christopher,
Kennedy killed one woman 36 years ago. Bush has killed thousands in this century. Get a grip.
Hay anjin-san jap man: why don't you go back to where you came from and see how well you enjoy it there if you hate it here so much? why why why don't you?
Chrissy,
I love it here. Just hate some of the morons I run across...
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