Senate Cuts Part of House Immigration Bill (Good Samaritan protection)

By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - As immigration rights activists rallied outside the Capitol, senators broke Monday from the House's get-tough approach by refusing to make criminals of people who help illegal immigrants.

The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., that would protect church and charitable groups, as well as individuals, from criminal prosecution for providing food, shelter, medical care and counseling to undocumented immigrants.

"Charitable organizations, like individuals, should be able to provide humanitarian assistance to immigrants without fearing prosecution," Durbin said.

The committee also approved more than doubling the current force of 11,300 Border Patrol agents in an effort to stem the tide of new undocumented workers arriving daily. It voted to add 2,000 agents next year and 2,400 more annually through 2011.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060327/ap_on_go_co/immigration

As a lifelong resident of the two States with the largest number of immigrants (CA and TX) this is the one thing I was really worried about.

Should be interesting to track.

maybe we should rethink that provision. Put them in jail, get some real congress people who are for the USA, not the repub party, and then drop the provision.

the president said. :rofl:

Does anyone else find that statement hilarious?

WASHINGTON - As immigration rights activists rallied outside the Capitol, senators broke Monday from the House's get-tough approach by refusing to make criminals of people who help illegal immigrants.

The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., that would protect church and charitable groups, as well as individuals, from criminal prosecution for providing food, shelter, medical care and counseling to undocumented immigrants.

"Charitable organizations, like individuals, should be able to provide humanitarian assistance to immigrants without fearing prosecution," Durbin said.

The committee also approved more than doubling the current force of 11,300 Border Patrol agents in an effort to stem the tide of new undocumented workers arriving daily. It voted to add 2,000 agents next year and 2,400 more annually through 2011.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060327/ap_on_go_co/immigration;_

But not those who hire the illegals.

rightwingers have shot their wad!

The Republicans hold a majority on the Judiciary Committee... in order for Durbin's amendment to pass, Republicans have had to voted for it.

The House version of the bill made it a felony for any person or group to lend assistance to illegal immigrants.

This means church groups who help illegals would be criminals.

That provision was removed from the final House bill thanks to Durban.

Go Durbin. We have to get hold of the immigration problem, but starving these poor people or throwing the guy who offers them food in jail is just SO UnAmerican.

Just look at what is done in the name of your country. Americans are capable of the greatest atrocities especially while invoking the name of Jesus. :shrug:

that made giving any "aid and comfort" to undocumented immigrants is wrong in ways that go beyond simple human decency, but I fear that it was in there as election year bait. The rethugs knew that part was not going to fly. The archbishop of the LA (ca) diocese had already issued a statement directing priests to disobey it if passed. However watch the rethugs use senator Durbins leading the way to eliminating that portion of the bill as "proof" the Dem's are weak on security. It was already starting last week. No mention of the catholic church though, guess they don't want to bite the hand that has fed and will continue to feed.









edit= forgot a word