[Aetius]

If Bush has truly abandoned the idea of letting legalized illegals have a path to citizenship then he should be commended for it, because it is at least a sign of progress on the issue. I simply don't see how anyone can argue that allowing illegals a path to citizenship w/o first having to go home and get in the normal, legal line is not amnesty.

And as far as future guest workers are concerned (i.e. those that would enter once the system is implemented); to give them a path to citizenship outside of the normal legal immigration system and levels would be nothing less than a potentially massive increase in already mass levels of legal immigration. If one thinks that is a good idea, fine, but they should at least have the decency to separate the two and not bury such a provision w/in a deceptive guest-worker bill (as McCain-Kennedy does), knowing that public support for a genuine guest-worker program almost certainly outweighs support for increasing legal immigration.

So Flake, McCain, Kennedy, and other amnesty supporters should be upfront and honest and instead of downplaying the ramifications their bill might have on legal immigration, state it clearly and be willing to defend it.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

The FDIC is working with the Chicago Mexican consulate to give home loans to illegal aliens. That program started in 2003, smack dab in Bush's watch.

The Bush administration also twisted arms to make sure that illegal aliens could use Matricula Consular cards.

"Cannot stay" would morph into "oops! I guess we can't deport them" within a couple years at most.

Those same people who say guest workers can't stay are currently also telling us that it would be unrealistic to deport all illegal aliens in the U.S. Not that it would be realistic to conduct mass deportations, but when they say both things they're admitting that they're lying.

[oceanview]

and if they have a baby while they are here, that child being an american citizen?

OK, then you can stay.

Forget guest workers, if we need new americans - increase legal immigration for those who are law abiding, and want to come here.

[SwinneySwitch]

President Bush is only there for 3 more years. Who knows what will be sworn in when he leaves office.

Troops on the borders, build the fence/wall, and remove all illegal aliens wherever they are.

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

And by what logic does the President think that a group of people already here illegally will leave when the amnesty programs ends? Or that they would return home to register in the first place? Or will this just apply to the new crop of illegals?

[Reagan Man]

>>>>If Bush has truly abandoned the idea of letting legalized illegals have a path to citizenship then he should be commended for it, because it is at least a sign of progress on the issue.

Bush has been President for over five years. In that time he's made several statements on immigration reform and everyone of them sounding like backdoor amnesty. He'll have to do better then mere words at this point. Lets see some action from Bush before we give him any kudos for an issue he has ignored his entire time in office. If Bush endorses the immigration plan put forth by Cong Tom Tancredo, then I'll say the President is on the right track. Until them all Bush is doing is handing out more lip service. Bush remains a believer and supporter of open borders and the cheap labor and Hispanic votes he hopes it will bring to GOP bigwigs.

[Ben Ficklin]

I believe this aricle is wrong in that Bush Plan always denied green cards or path to citizenship.

Here is Bush's press release from '04 and it states: "the program should not connect participation to a Green Card or citizenship"

[raybbr]

ping

[Oatka]

President Bush yesterday said illegal aliens who take part in his guest-worker program would not be allowed to stay permanently.

Does he plan to neuter all of them? If not, what's to prevent them from fathering or giving birth to an "Anchor Baby"? Can you spell Family Reunification?:

Green Card through Relatives or Family Members
Individuals who have close relatives or family members in the United States may be eligible to apply for permanent residency (green card) if the sponsoring relative is United States citizen or green card holder. The process of completing and submitting an application for a Green Card for your relatives can be both costly and confusing. The Green Card through Relatives application package makes the application process easy to understand. This is a step-by-step guide to help you file your Green Card application as efficiently and quickly as possible.
You may submit an application for a Green Card if you have a close family member who is a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder.
The sponsoring family member (the person who will sponsor you) can be your:
* Husband or Wife (please refer to our Green Card through Marriage section)
* Widow or Widower of a U.S. citizen
* Brother or Sister (including half-brothers and half-sisters)
* Son or Daughter (including illegitimate children) (A new cottage industry - Rent A Parent)
etc., etc.

[Ace of Spades]

Oh yeah right. Y'all have to go home now. Wink, wink.

Bush has NO credibility when it comes to immigration. None.

[Plutarch]

"The length of stay here will be dependent upon the actions of the Congress. It's conceivable you could have a three-year period with a renewal period," he said.

What is inconceivable is that a future Congress or President will forcibly remove people who up until their time has expired have been "playing by the rules", and "contributing to the economy," and who have also produced U.S. Citizen anchor babies. Conspicuously absent from the bills he favors are provisions up front that incentivize or enforce eventual Guest Worker removal from the U.S., such as retention of earnings to be paid upon return to Mexico.

No Western nation anywhere has ever forcibly removed their "Guest Workers". For any of us to believe that this time they mean it is to play Charlie Brown forever being fooled by Lucy.

[mad_as_he$$]

I have said it before and I will say it again. NO BUSH WILL EVER TIGHTEN THE BORDER. It's all just window dressing. We will attack Iran before anything meaningful is done to secure our borders.

[gubamyster]

ping

[kstewskis]

President Bush yesterday said illegal aliens who take part in his guest-worker program would not be allowed to stay permanently.

Oooooookay.

So Mr. Bush, how would you propose getting them as "guests" to go home, when their "welcome" is overstayed?

They can't track and deport the millions of illegals here already, does he really think that they'll listen when they are told to go home when their work visa is ended?

[RJL]

President Bush yesterday said illegal aliens who take part in his guest-worker program would not be allowed to stay permanently.

They would never go home.

After living here for six years there would be about a million sympathetic news reports about Juan and Juanita and their children, home, church, school, jobs, community, and the roots we all put down in six years. They will never go back to Mexico

President Bush, Call me, I'll bet everything I own against everything you own that there will be no large resettlement of Mexican temporary workers back to Mexico.

[NRA2BFree]

What a load! That's not just any load, it's a full load. LOL Don't believe Bush. He's the king of globalization, and open borders. Haven't you heard about "THE AMERICAS?" It includes Canada, Mexico and all of South America!!

[EternalVigilance]

The President's actions are speaking so loud, we can't hear what he's saying...

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Mr. Bush said illegal aliens could join the guest-worker program, but they would have to go home just like future temporary workers. . . .

Why didn't someone think of that before?!

Just tell the ILLEGAL aliens that there are rules! Yes! That's it. How simple. Problem solved.

[Redleg Duke]

It sounds like President Bush has set up McManiac.

[WhiteGuy]

Bush says guest workers could not stay


Who's going to make them leave?

This moron won't even ackowledge that we have laws against this sort of invasion, let alone actually inforce them.

[Pelham]

Bush says guest workers could not stay

Well of course- after all, the illegals are obeying the laws we have right now. Who could possibly think that they wouldn't obey the laws in the future?

And not a single one of them would have an 'anchor baby' born while they are here- the claim that 30% of the illegals now here have anchor babies is xenophobic vigilante hogwash. Just ask the Quislings.