Bush To Propose Immigration Law Changes

AP | 01-05-04 | AP

[Pubbie]

[Moderator's note: threads regarding immigration issues and border issues have been spiralling out of control for some time on Free Republic. This is going to change. Fair warning: this would be a very poor thread to engage in flame warring, flame baiting, or otherwise being needlessly instigative. If you have not yet read this thread, you may want to before engaging in the debate on this or other similar threads. If there are any questions regarding the new scrutiny of these threads, please take them to that thread rather than cluttering up these threads. So far, people have been very cooperative with this effort, and for that I am grateful. Thanks, and happy Freeping.]

President Bush will propose immigration law changes to allow workers from Mexico to enter the United States if they have jobs waiting for them, officials said Monday in previewing an election-year measure intended to bolster support among Hispanic voters.

Advocacy groups were invited to the White House on Wednesday to hear details of the program.

"The president has long talked about the importance of having an immigration policy that matches willing workers with willing employers," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "It's important for America to be a welcoming society. We are a nation of immigrants, and we're better for it."

Immigration advocacy groups characterized Bush's move as a politically drawn effort to curry favor with Hispanics, a potent political force, particularly in key states like Florida, California and border states. Two sources speaking on condition of anonymity said Bush would outline a set of principles rather than a detailed piece of legislation, and that the policy statement would draw on bills already pending in Congress.

"It looks very much like a political effort and what they do with these `principles' is going to determine whether this is really a policy initiative or not," said Cecilia Munoz, vice president for policy at the National Council of La Raza. "The Latino community knows the difference between political posturing and a real policy debate."

She said the initiative was crafted by Bush's political strategist, Karl Rove, and that the immigration policy community was excluded from the deliberations.

"We know of no one in the immigration policy community, business groups or Latino groups who has been consulted," she said.

[MissAmericanPie]

What I'm saying is that this "Nation of Immigrants" scam is just that, a scam. As if, as native citizens, we are not entitled to question what measures are, or in this case, are not, being taken to safeguard against the dissolving of the constitutional republic in favor of a socialist nightmare, without the ever so handy tool of racist being leveled against them to cower them into being quiet until it is a feat accompli.

As conservatives I'm suprised that you don't have the foresight to fight this scam. Already the Supreme Court is happy to admit that when international law contridicts the constitution, it will be the constitution that is set aside. How many immigrants will know this is an important issue while they are voting their bellies? The evidence is already in and in your face. It says more will think voting their bellies is far more important.

[FITZ]

History sure --- but what real difference to my life right now at this moment would there be if some great great great grandfather came from Poland or Italy instead of Ireland? Or was on a slave ship? What does that change about me at all?

I have no connections with Europe or Canada --- which as far as I know is where they all came from. I've never even been to Europe. I doubt I could find out reliably very far back even if I wanted to. Even the author of "Roots" where a lot of this geneology rage started, had to make up stuff.

[Sabertooth]

I see you can't answer if you come from stock of immigrants, yet. Or can't a conservative answer that question?

Joe, flag me when you answer this one, will you?

It's always a kick in the presumptions.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Thanks for helping me with it all Joe. I finally understand what had previously eluded me."

LOL!!!

[Cultural Jihad]

Have you not yet had thieving Mexican children stealing from you?

Ah, more advocacy of tribal justice which sounds so foreign and strange to American and conservative ears.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

I cannot agree with you that this will allow for assimilation. It did not happen before; all we got was bilingualism. It will be even worse this time; it will encourage even more illegal entry into our country.
The only argument that has any merit, IMO, is that everyone within our borders will have some sort of documentation (although it will be easy to get forgeries). From a Homeland Security standpoint, that is appealing.
Yes, many work very hard and for little. But, there are many costs associated with their presence (health, education & welfare).
To assimulate one must learn English. After 60+ years in our country, many still do not speak English. Instead, we must make everything bilingual. No other group of people who came to America required this, and every other group came here legally!

[A Citizen Reporter]

Toothy,

He had several chances to answer. But ran away. I guess he needed the kick from you, eh?

[MJY1288]

"He was working backroom politics to get 245(i) extended in a rider on a Homeland Security bill. He said he was sorry the extension was left out of the package."

ROFLMAO, OK

"You've had facts; you're waiting for something else, though I don't know what."

"When the next facts come, will you wait some more?"

Again... ROFLMAO, I ask you for facts and you speculate on what might have been going on behind closed doors....

Thanks Sabertooth, you've said all I need to know. Goodnight my friend, no hard feelings, we just see things through totally different prism's

[Sabertooth]

I recall it won in the high fifties, something like 3 to 2.

You recall correctly. #187 was polling steadily in the 60s until the last month or two, when the "anti-immigrant" smears got traction.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Don't forget Powhatan's famous words when he saw the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery drop anchor at what would later be Jamestown:

"Ah, phuque, boat people!"

(I used to live there and the natives claim this is the petrified truth. I don't know where he got the French accent.)

[FITZ]

I'm just one of those melting pot Americans --- a non-immigrant who doesn't feel any connection to any other country or feel part of some group. If one of my long ago ancestors came here and refused to learn English for example --- that doesn't mean I respect that.

As far as being a nation of immigrants --- only some people in this country actually immigrated here --- the rest of us were born and raised here.

[RnMomof7]

Well if he really thinks this will get him the Hispanic votes he is delusional ..all it does is cost him conservative votes..

[Cultural Jihad]

Well, language is a whole different issue from normalizing legal status for our neighbors. Feel free to outlaw the speaking of Spanish if you want to.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Even the author of "Roots" where a lot of this geneology rage started, had to make up stuff."

You are a sad soul. Genealogical societies have been around long before Alex Haley! LOL! I've had enough for tonight. Nite.

[Cultural Jihad]

Well if he really thinks this will get him the Hispanic votes he is delusional ..all it does is cost him conservative votes..

Please note that the only ones claiming President Bush will present a plan for normalizing the legal status of undocumented immigrants because of a desire for vote-pandering are liberal newspapers and anti-immigrant advocates.

[SevenDaysInMay]

What are you thinking?

Your comment has no connection to my question?

[RnMomof7]

There they go again with that dispicable bit of con carne. Anyone you know have an immgrant in their family for the last three hundred years?

My grandparents were 1st generation..but they waited in line and came legally .

The question is can they make a bill nation specific? Could be planes full of Indian engineers and high tech folks will come in.

Open the flood gates and prepare for a third world culture.

[Sabertooth]

And normalizing their status will allow for assimilation.

It will allow for the further defining down of deviancy.

Legalizing Illegals encourages future Illegals.

Rewarding lawbreaking encourages lawbreaking.

This seems like a good opportunity for all people to step forward and clearly state whether they are actually for the assimilation of productive people into the broader culture, or whether they approve of the status quo of balkanized communities filled with hopelessness and insecurity.

I favor the assimilation of productive people, and assimilation starts with adherence to the rule of law. Amnesties reward Illegals at the expense of law-abiding legal immigrant candidates.

I oppose the balkanization of our society engendered by Illegals and their enablers.

[WRhine]

What I find most amusing about this whole thread!!! Nowhere in this article is there any mention of illegals, there is no mention of amnesty, there is no mention of an actual proposal, in fact the very advocates of an amnesty proposal....

Well, I guess we will know a lot more about this proposal two days from now won't we? But let me tell you, the reason so many of us are assuming the worse is because Bush has a history of obfuscating the details of previous Amnesty attempts. 2 years ago he characterized his support for the extension of the 245(i) Amnesty as a "Family Reunification" bill that did not apply to illegal aliens. However, the wording of the bill that Bush's operatives twisted arms on capital hill for passage most definitely did apply to illegal aliens but you had to read the fine print to find it.

Bush most definitely favors large scale Amnesty for illegal aliens and has proven time and again to be very deceptive about it. Be prepared for a surprise. All this talk from Ridge and others about legalizing millions of illegals isn't happening for nothing.

[RnMomof7]

Please note that the only ones claiming President Bush will present a plan for normalizing the legal status of undocumented immigrants because of a desire for vote-pandering are liberal newspapers and anti-immigrant advocates.

Yea . Our borders have been sives and the President has said he favors a"guest worker " program

He will grant amnesty to the ILLEGALS here and open the gates some more..

Call it a prophecy