07/28/06 Immigration Comes Home

Immigration issue comes home. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. We don't expect to see the immigration issue resolved any time soon even though both the House and Senate have come up with their respective plans. Experts say that it will take some doing to get those two plans put together and then approved by the President. Local communities have been trying to take matters in their own hands. Earlier this week the Kennewick, Washington city council took on a proposal by a council member to fine all local businesses and landlords that do business with or house illegal immigrants. Councilman Bob Parks proposed using a Hazelton, Pennsylvania ordinance that establishes English as the official town language. In addition to fining businesses up to $1000 for each instance, it also prohibits any documents from being distributed in any other language. The issue was soundly defeated due to a lack of data regarding the Hazelton ordinance. But after the session the two opposing sides represented took their argument into the hallway where tempers flared and words exchanged. In other immigration issues, two Republicans have unveiled a plan designed to bridge the gap between the House and Senate on immigration - which has prevented a conference on the issue. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist welcomed the proposal from Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Indiana 6th District Congressman Mike Pence. Hutchison and Pence would begin with security measures much like those approved by the House in December and would require illegal immigrants to self-deport. Once the government certifies U.S. borders are sufficiently secured - would-be immigrants from Mexico and Central America would have the opportunity to apply for temporary visas - and after at least 17 years of working in the U.S. - get on a path to citizenship. While the idea failed to gain ground when the Senate passed its immigration legislation in May - Frist says the ideas presented by Hutchison and Pence could ultimately help Congress find a way to strengthen the border - have an effective workplace enforcement system - and tackle the issue of the 12-million immigrants in the U.S. illegally. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.