But we have been denied an opportunity to have those amendments considered and voted on by the Senate because the Democratic leader has simply refused to allow any amendment that he personally does not agree with to get a vote. We have had three votes in the last week and a half. relatively1 should say completely noncontroversial votes--but the Democratic leader has refused to let the Senate vote on Senator KYLs amendment. This is particularly troubling to me because it is one that I believe the American people would wholeheartedly agree with. and thatwhatever we decide to do with regard to the 12 million people who are currently living in our country in the shadows and outside the lawwe ought to make sure whatever we do does not include a blanket amnesty for 500.000 or so felons. individuals who have committed at least three misdemeanors. and those who have had their day in court. who are under final orders of deportation or who have agreed to voluntarily leave the country once they have been caught in the country illegally. Those individuals. either because they have had their day in court or because they are. in fact. felons or people with criminal records. ought not to get the benefits. whatever they may ultimately be. of the amnesty that is proposed in the underlying bill. This is especially troubling to me because. as I have said earlier. if you look at what happened in 1986. with the Immigration Reform Act that was passed then. Congress. in effect. told America you should trust us to enforce the laws. but. of course. as we now know. that did not happen. Indeed. when the amnesty was granted in 1986. some 3 million people stood to benefit from that amnesty.
Keywords matched
deportation Immigration