They Didn't Even Bother to Hide It -- This Is An Amnesty Bill From The First Line

The Bush-Kennedy spin machine is desperately trying to say this is not an amnesty bill. We just received a copy of the actual bill (all 326 pages) and amnesty wasn’t hard to find because it STARTED ON PAGE 1, LINE 1!

The very first line of the bill makes it clear that illegals get “probationary status” before any border security triggers are implemented. Once given this legal status, the bill expressly states that a former illegal alien “may not be considered an unauthorized alien.” This is amnesty!

Grasfire.org press release.
Download text of the amnesty bill (large file -- .pdf)
Heritage Foundation online searchable version of bill

Amnesty On Page One, Line 1
Here's what Page One, Line 1 of the bill actually says:

SEC. 1. EFFECTIVE DATE TRIGGERS.
(a) With the exception of the probationary benefits conferred by
Section 601(h), the provisions of Subtitle C of Title IV, and the
admission of aliens under Section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)), as amended by Title IV, 12

The key phrase is "with the exception" (the first words in the bill) which exempt the "benefits" outlined on Section 601(h) from the border security triggers. What does Section 601(h) say?

Probationary benefits given regardless of "triggers"
A reading of Section 601(h) -- page 268 -- makes it clear what is being exempted: illegal aliens will be granted probationary legal status. All they must do is apply and then wait 24 hours. What's more, once they have probationary status, they "may not be considered an unauthorized alien."

(1) IN GENERAL- An alien who files an application for Z
nonimmigrant status shall....

(A) be granted probationary benefits in the form of
employment authorization pending final adjudication
of the alien's application;

(B) may in the Secretaryís discretion receive
advance permission to re-enter the United States
pursuant to existing regulations governing advance
parole;

(C) may not be detained for immigration purposes,
determined inadmissible or deportable, or removed
pending final adjudication of the alien's application,
unless the alien is determined to be ineligible for Z
nonimmigrant status; and

(D) may not be considered an unauthorized alien (as
defined in section 274A(h)(3) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(h)(3))) unless
employment authorization under subparagraph (A) is
denied.

(2) Timing of Probationary Benefits. No probationary
benefits shall be issued to an alien until the alien has
passed all appropriate background checks or the end of the
next business day, whichever is sooner.

Three Action Items

Action #1 -- Schedule your “No Amnesty” Faxes to the Senate
Over 100,000 faxes have already been delivered with thousands more being sent every hour. My staff tells me there is still time to get your fax scheduled and delivered before this week’s vote, but I must hear from you as soon as possible.

Action #2 -- Call your Senators. Go here for key list or call 202-224-3121.

Action #3 -- REPORT on how Senators say they will vote!
We have set up special reporting sites here on FireSociety for each state so you can report to other grassroots citizens how these senators say they are going to vote on Bush-Kennedy.

The Washington Times is reporting that 17 Senators now oppose, 22 have “serious concerns,” and another 30 are still reviewing. We need 41 votes to stop this bill and your field reports will help us identify the senators that need to be pressured.

We can win this battle if we will overwhelm the Senate with our demand that this bill be defeated.


Steve Elliott, Grassfire