[Wasanother]

Cornyn has it right, they must go back first then apply for guest worker. I don't think Bush wants them to go back first, he wants them to pay a fine first, stay in place, apply and then go to work. He has said he felt as punishment for being here illegally they need to pay restitution just like a ticket but that it shouldn't eliminate them from work and that's why it's not amnesty to him.

[Cboldt]

I don't think Bush wants them to go back first, he wants them to pay a fine first ... and that's why it's not amnesty to him.

Basically.

I read an article a few weeks ago that described the proceedings on the immigration bill being disorganized and contentious to the point of comedy.

Specter seems to have the process in good order today - but it's going to be a challenge to get a bill to tumble out in time to short-circuit Frist's "whip the Judiciary Committee" bill.

[Reagan Man]

Frankly, any new legislation should focus on securing the borders and enforcing existing employer sanctions. The guest worker program will have to wait.

If you read that section of the Cornyn-Kyl proposal called, the "Temporary Worker Program", at first glance it looks okay. Its the next part that is worrisome. The "Mandatory Departure and Reentry in Legal Status" section, allows illegals to leave the US without being punished. No fines and no jail time. IOW, illegal aliens get off scot-free. That isn't right. I believe the Bush`s proposal at least has a fine attached.

If I missed something by way of fines or other punishment, please correct me.

Also, the Cornyn-Kyl proposal has provision for the construction of border barriers, aka. walls, fences, moats, etc etc etc.

[FastCoyote]

"I don't think Bush wants them to go back first, he wants them to pay a fine first, stay in place, apply and then go to work."

An illegal would have to be an idiot to join the guest worker program - he'd be taxed, subject to worker comp, ohsha, everything else. Therefore Guest Worker is dead on arrival.