| Millions on Path to Citizenship as Senators reach Compromise |
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Senate Republicans and Democrats reached an agreement on procedures to legalise millions of illegal citizens of U.S. The agreement will offer a chance to approximately 10 million illegal immigrants to come out of legal netherworld.
The pact still has some road to be traveled before it becomes a law.The plan would also create a temporary worker program that would allow 325,000 foreigners to fill jobs in the United States each year. The Senate was expected to vote on the measure late today or early Friday and, if passed, it would mark the most sweeping immigration accord in two decades.
Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada told reporters details of an agreement needed to be worked out, but they were optimistic the Senate could pass the legislation.
"We‘ve had a huge breakthrough ... that will lead us to the conclusion of passing a very important bill," Frist said at a news conference with Reid and other key lawmakers.
Republican officials said the GOP plan would divide illegal immigrants into three categories:
• Those who had been in the country the longest, more than five years, would not be required to return to their home country before gaining legal status. They would be subject to several tests, including the payment of fines and back taxes, and be required to submit to a background check, according to these officials.
• Illegal immigrants in the United States less than five years but more than two would be required to go to a border point of entry, briefly leave and then be readmitted to the United States. As with the longer-term illegal, other steps would be required, these officials said.
• Illegal immigrants in the United States less than two years would be required to leave the country and join any other foreign residents seeking legal entry.
Congressional procedures require the House and Senate to agree on a joint version of every bill, known as a ``conference report,’’ that must be approved by both chambers before it is sent to the president for his signature.
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| Protests in France turn Violent - Apr 5, 2006 17:16 IST |
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Protests in France entered violent phase on Tuesday when young protesters could be seen throwing stones, bottles etc on the Riot Control Police. The Police is learnt to have retaliated with tear gas to disrupt the crowd, and not to mention many troublemakers have been arrested.
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| Saddam to face Genocide Charges - Apr 5, 2006 8:25 IST |
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Baghdad, Iraq -- The latest development in the trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is the announcement from an Iraqi tribunal that the former dictator will be charged with genocide over his 1980 campaign against the Kurds.
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| Thailand’s PM Resigns - Apr 5, 2006 8:25 IST |
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Thailand’s embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has announced his resignation. While speaking on TV, he also confirmed that until a new premier was chosen he would remain a caretaker prime minister. Mr. Thaksin has urged his country men to re-unite in the midst of continuing political crisis which he had hoped to end by calling for snap election’s on Sunday.
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| Pope John Paul II remembered around the World - Apr 3, 2006 11:57 IST |
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Tens of thousands of pilgrims commemorated the first death anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s on Sunday, who died a year ago after a long and publicly fought battle with a series of illnesses.
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