President Bush Proposes New Temporary Worker Program [Transcript]

The White House ^ | Jan 7, 2004 | President George W. Bush

[Penner]

No, in past Amnesty programs you applied for it, got it, and got to stay forever. Here you do not. If you apply for a guest worker program from your home country and you optain a job you get issued the permit at no charge. If you are here and apply for the program you must have a job and you must pay a fee. AND at the end of the 3 year period you must return to your home country. BIG DIFFERENCE

Do you really think that the gov't is going to spend the time and money to hunt down violaters and deport them? I have my doubts. They haven't done it in the past.

[McGavin999]

If they wanted to, INS could easily round up illegal immigrants now in the way you propose. Why don't they just do that?

And where would you start? Most of the illegals are employed under the table. With this new law, if you don't have a blue card you can be deported. They will start to enforce this new law because now there will be no excuse and the American people will not be able to have their heartstrings pulled with that old canard about "they're just trying to have a better life" and "they're paying taxes". They aren't most of them have never had a dime taken from their checks. This will allow us to identify those who are and those who aren't. It's a start on fixing a HUGE problem.

Look, I live in Arizona and illegals are everywhere. Once the City of Chandler tried rounding up the illegals and you wouldn't believe the trouble they got into. These groups actually sued the city. Yeah, I know we have laws on the books. The problem is, when those laws have been ignored for decades our courts can pretty much do as they please. People get away with saying it's common practice. That's why there has to be a NEW law so when enforcement starts everyone will understand.

President Bush's proposal is very reasonable. They will not be able to claim that it is onerous to enforce it because those who do not obtain a blue card are very obviously skirting the law that is REASONABLE.

[cajun-jack]

he didn't say anything about rounding up and kicking out or even accounting for the "guest workers" already here "illegally"....I won't vote dem and that is what he is counting on..he might be fighting the ragheads but he is just a "buttboy" for coca cola fox. who BTW is too lazy to do anything to improve his own country other than try to get more mexicans over here to send more money back to mexico. Illegals ARE mexico's economy and fox is smart enough to know that..he doesnt' have to actually do anything..just get more mexicans to the U.S. and the whole standard of living will improve in mexico.

[eureka!]

bump for later...

[CalKat]

You say, "with this new law, if you don't have a blue card you can be deported".

Huh? Under the current law if you don't have a green card you can be deported. How is this blue card going to cure all the problems? I don't see how any of the examples you are giving to show how the new laws will be enforced are any different than what could be done now to enforce the current laws, without granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.

I live in Southern California myself, and have much exposure to illegal aliens.

[not-alone]

thanks for your thoughtful posts. I wish more around here would be more open minded and not prejudge. I was already to hate this , but after listening and reading the President's ideas I'm open to change. The current system is terrible.

After living the last couple years in South Florida , I pray moderates can put a system in place that will be enforced.

[Kevin Curry]

Angela Kelly, Deputy Director of the National Immigration Forum--an aggressively pro-immigration group--is on CNN. She says her group believes President Bush's plan will result in an increase in the number of undocumented aliens. Why? Because at the end of three years, instead of going home they'll go underground again. She says Bush is going to have to go ahead and allow them to get full citizenship or we'll have a bigger problem on our hands.

[McGavin999]

We have to do something. The old way was unenforcable, this is a good start.

[null and void]

When his Daddy broke his no new tax pledge,

No new taxes Vs No new Texans.

It looks more and more like the Clark/Hillary!™ ticket will be a shoe in...

[MattAMiller]

If this is amnesty then I guess I support some sort of amnesty. I'm not interested in wreaking vengence on illegals. Crossing the border illegally isn't murder. I don't want them granted citizenship, but if they want to enter a legal work system upon paying a fine then I don't mind.

[Bulldog1967]

Bush presented a well-thought out incentive program that will help us get a handle on uncontrolled immigration and potential terrorists within our borders. It recognizes reality, does not reward illegal behavior and has political side benefits.

wtf?? What is the color of the sky in YOUR world??

[COEXERJ145]

Well, compared to what the media was reporting Bush was going to propose, this isn't nearly as bad.

I say wait until the bills are introduced in Congress. That will tell us what the real goals of the program are.

[jackbill]

So the President is suggesting that we trade a policy that is broken with a policy that is just waiting to be broken? No thanks.

Enforce the damn law before you recommend another law.

If the high-paid government workers can't enforce the law, fire them.

[Owen]

>
Amnesty is a governmental pardon. These illegal immigrants are being granted amnesty by virtue of the fact that they will not be prosecuted or deported for the crime of entering this country illegally. Calling it by another name does not change the fact that it is amnesty.
>

This is not correct. The fine they must pay transforms this into pleading guilty to the crime and paying their debt to society. At that point, only after that point, can they apply to remain legally.

[SunStar]

How is this different from amnesty?

"I oppose amnesty, placing undocumented workers on the automatic path to citizenship. Granting amnesty encourages the violation of our laws, and perpetuates illegal immigration. America is a welcoming country, but citizenship must not be the automatic reward for violating the laws of America."

What price are they paying for their illegal activity?

If they are caught, they would be deported. However, there are too many of them now to deport them all, and, due to Political Correctness, not to mention anti-discrimination laws, it would be very difficult to ask all Hispanics in the U.S. to show ID.

What motive will others have to not do exactly the same thing?

Hopefully, President Bush is serious about severely penalizing American companies and businesses who employ illegal immigrants after the new laws are passed. If there are few jobs available for Mexicans who do not have a "blue card", obtaining one will be the priority, rather than border jumping.

[SunStar]

I don't think most voters equated a guest worker program with granting amnesty to the millions of illegal aliens already here.

This isn't amnesty for the millions of illegal aliens already here. Amnesty would be permanent resident status or citizenship, neither of which are being offered.

[SunStar]

In other words, I will create a wealth transfer system similar to the loan sharks and shysters who stole billions of dollars from Jews being "deported to work camps".

C'mon...

Those illegal aliens who are already here, who want their blue card, will just work until they can pay the fee, and then pay the fee.

[Owen]

> So the President is suggesting that we trade a policy that is broken with a policy that is just waiting to be broken? No thanks. Enforce the damn law before you recommend another law. If the high-paid government workers can't enforce the law, fire them. >

This is law enforcement. They will plead guilty to the transgression of being here illegally by paying a fine. The fine is the sentence for the transgression. At that point, they are permitted to apply to remain.

And all this is so only if they have a job. If they do not have an employer, they may not apply.

This policy is excellent.

[null and void]

Those who do not have blue cards within a certain timeframe will be deported automatically. All the lobbying and all the lawyers in the world will not be able to stop it.

Ha!

All our betters need to do is not fund the trip to the border. No city, state or county not actually adjoining the country of origin will be able to pay the freight.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting the transcript of President Bush's speech. Looks to me like most of the same people that were not supporting President Bush before this speech are the same ones saying they won't support him now.

Been trying to tell people that President Bush is not granting amnesty but it went right over their heads and I noticed on here when the actual words are posted, some people are still calling it Amnesty. Amazing.