Cornyn proposes plan for immigrant 'guest workers' (Amnesty)

Dallas Ft. Worth Star-Telegram ^ | July 11th, 2003 | Dave Montgomery

[Sabertooth]

Cornyn proposes plan for immigrant 'guest workers'

By Dave Montgomery

Star-Telegram Washington Bureau

John Cornyn

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. John Cornyn launched his first major legislative initiative Thursday, calling for a guest worker program that would enable millions of undocumented immigrants to legally live and work in the United States for up to three years.

The bill puts the first-term Texas Republican in the center of politically volatile efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration laws. The issue has strained relations between the Bush administration and Mexican President Vicente Fox, who is pressing the U.S. government to grant legal status to the estimated 5 million Mexicans now living illegally in the United States.

Cornyn described his proposal as a moderate approach that would bring undocumented workers "out of the shadows" and give them jobs without granting blanket amnesty and U.S. citizenship. Immigrant guest workers could stay a maximum of three years and then apply for "green cards" to become permanent residents in the United States.

Despite a clampdown on America's borders in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, illegal immigrants continue to flow into the country each day in search of jobs and better living standards. Between 8 million and 11 million immigrants from around the globe are living in the country illegally.

"We have been living in denial for a long time," Cornyn said in a briefing in his Washington office.

Cornyn said that his bill, titled the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2003, seeks to control the problem by requiring undocumented workers to apply for the guest worker program within a year after its enactment.

Those who fail to apply would be subject to deportation and civil penalties. The bill also would impose sanctions on employers who continue to hire undocumented workers.

A cornerstone of the measure would create "investment funds," financed by employers, that the workers could collect only after returning to their home country at the end of three years.

Cornyn called the fund "a carrot" that would discourage workers from staying in the country illegally after completing the maximum three years. The money would be forfeited and placed in the U.S. Treasury if the workers became ineligible to claim it.

"This program would allow us to account for immigrants who are no threat to America, and distinguish them from those who are," Cornyn said. "Our homeland security needs demand that we account for the millions of unknown immigrants living within our borders."

Although the bill would apply to undocumented workers from all countries, Cornyn acknowledged that the measure would have a strong impact in Texas and other border states with large numbers of undocumented workers from Mexico. As many as 700,000 undocumented workers, primarily from Mexico and Central America, are believed to be living in Texas.

Many undocumented immigrants had been hoping the government would resume serious discussion of a guest worker program.

"Everyone is finding out that something needs to be done," said Javier, an undocumented worker in Northeast Tarrant County who comes from Mexico and didn't want his last name published. "There are so many people who come here to work."

Javier said many undocumented workers just want to be able to work without breaking U.S. laws. He said many just come to earn money so they can set up businesses in their homelands.

One area leader said he hopes this is a sincere discussion and not just lip service to Hispanic voters.

"I hope this is not just a campaign gesture. Remember, this is one year before the election," said Lico Reyes, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens International Council No. 4779, which covers the Texas 287 corridor and includes the cities of Arlington, Fort Worth, Mansfield and Kennedale.

Cornyn said his is not an administration proposal.

Staff Writer Diane Smith Contributed to This Report.

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ONLINE: Cornyn, cornyn.senate.gov
Dave Montgomery, (202) 383-6016 dmontgomery@krwashington.com

[Sabertooth]

Cornyn described his proposal as a moderate approach that would bring undocumented workers "out of the shadows" and give them jobs without granting blanket amnesty and U.S. citizenship. Immigrant guest workers could stay a maximum of three years and then apply for "green cards" to become permanent residents in the United States.

This is the big lie. Senator Cornyn (R-Tx) is proposing an Illegal Alien Amnesty in stages, even as he parrots the "without granting blanket amnesty" misdirection that we've been hearing from certain Republican politicians, from the White House on down.

Anytime a politician speaks against "blanket Amnesty," as opposed to "any Amnesty," that politician's statement should be parsed as a declaration of support for some sort of Amnesty for Illegal Aliens.

The reason for the pretense is obvious: politicians don't want the American public to realize that they've thrown in with the Illegals.

[Sabertooth]

((((((growl)))))

[Texas_Dawg]

Way to go, Sen. Cornyn! A true freedom lover and free marketeer like the great man he replaced. Awesome news for freedom-loving Texans like myself.

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[Sabertooth]

I don't think you have any idea how badly an Amnesty for Illegal Aliens will hurt the Republican Party, should Senator Cornyn's bill be passed and be signed into law by President Bush. The majority of Americans are firmly opposed to Amnesty for Illegals.

Illegal Aliens, with the Proposition 187-like ballot initiative in Arizona next Spring and the Million American March in Washington DC in September of 2004, are not so likely be conveniently swept under the rug during the next Presidential Election, despite the preferences of President Bush.

[Marine Inspector]

These idiot Congressmen must have pro immigration people writing their bills and then blowing smoke up their butts.

This thing has so many loopholes and flaws in it, it is ridicules.

Cornyn described his proposal as a moderate approach that would bring undocumented workers "out of the shadows" and give them jobs without granting blanket amnesty and U.S. citizenship. Immigrant guest workers could stay a maximum of three years and then apply for "green cards" to become permanent residents in the United States.

Once you’ve given them a Green Card, you’ve given them Citizenship you bozo.

Cornyn said that his bill, titled the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2003, seeks to control the problem by requiring undocumented workers to apply for the guest worker program within a year after its enactment.

Those who fail to apply would be subject to deportation and civil penalties. The bill also would impose sanctions on employers who continue to hire undocumented workers.

How are you going to enforce it? If we can’t kick them out now, how is your bill going to kick them out one year after it’s enacted?

We have sanctions now for people that employee illegals, but we don’t enforce them. Unless you hire 10,000 new agents to enforce employer sanctions, your bill will just be one more law that won’t be enforced.

This is nothing but a plan to reward criminals here in the US.

AMNESTY IS AMNESTY, NO MATER HOW YOU SUGAR COAT IT.

[dennisw]

Obviously he's catering to the flood of legal and illegal Mexicans into Texas. He wants to be re-elected and this is what his advisors told him to do.

[Texas_Dawg]

So why then would the Senator from the state whose residents are most affected by illegal immigration (other than California) be sponsoring this?

[Sabertooth]

He thinks that Hispandering will gain him more votes than it costs him when he's up for re-election in five years.

[Texas_Dawg]

He thinks that Hispandering will gain him more votes than it costs him when he's up for re-election in five years.

Yeah... since he had such a hard time getting elected without any amnesty offer during the last election (wouldn't this "pander" lose him just as many votes as well?). Guess again.

[Sabertooth]

No games, I stand by my statement. I highly doubt Cornyn ran on a pro-Amnesty campaign, or he'd call this bill what it really is.

Feel free to offer an alternative interpretation.

[texastoo]

According to this article, Cornyn's bill is mild and doesn't past the muster.

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/944121/posts

[Texas_Dawg]

You are giving two conflicting statements. One: that he would do this to get votes, but Two: that the Republicans will lose lots of voters in a backlash if they do this. Which is it? Unless you think he's just stupid. The Democrats ran a popular black mayor against Cornyn, with a Hispanic on the ticket in the governor's race, and the GOP trounced them both overwhelmingly. So why would he need to pander to anyone? Don't you think he could just vote against amnesty and still be just fine next time around?

[Sabertooth]

You are giving two conflicting statements. One: that he would do this to get votes, but Two: that the Republicans will lose lots of voters in a backlash if they do this. Which is it?

There's no conflict.

Cornyn, like many in the GOP, is under the impression that they can gain Hispanic votes with a stealth Amnesty, without losing a greater number of votes from other demographics, because the stealth Amnesty will slip under their radar.

This is why they don't call it Amnesty.

Now, you clearly disagree, and that's fine. I'm still waiting for your explanation.

[Redbob]

This proposal has been on Cornyn's website for at least a month now.