Piecemeal Amnesty

Source: San Jose Mercury News

The introduction Wednesday of an ambitious agricultural guest-worker plan showcases the changed Capitol Hill circumstances that may make 2007 the year for an immigration overhaul.

Some congressional roadblocks are gone. Sympathetic new leaders are in charge. A restored Democratic majority claims new priorities.

"A year does make a difference," insisted Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

Or so he hopes.

Joined by lawmakers from Florida and California, and backed by hundreds of farm, labor and church groups, Craig is reintroducing a guest-worker plan that's been debated for years. As many as 1.5 million farm workers and their relatives now in this country illegally could gain legal status under the bill.

The legislation, dubbed AgJobs, would also revise an existing guest-worker program that farmers consider inefficient. It's the first big immigration overhaul bill introduced this year, mirroring legislation passed last year by the Senate but not the House of Representatives.

Do they really think that the American people who so strongly object to amnesty in any form will be swayed that this one would only allegedly apply to 1.5 million illegal aliens, instead of 10 million, 12 million, 15 million, whatever? Double-digit millions may qualify as a technical shitload, but 1.5 million illegal aliens being granted amnesty is still an actual shitload in my book.

But, not to worry, right? It'll take forever. We don't really need to think about this NOW. I mean, the Super Bowl is right around the corner, and we've all got Christmas gift cards to spend, right?

"I happen to believe we have the votes," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "I believe the bill can move quickly."

Bad things can happen while you're asleep, people. Very bad things.

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Illegal Immigration * Illegal Aliens * Amnesty * Congress * Super Bowl