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I am in favor of any measure that will address this issue in an orderly, intelligent manner.

Whether I am opposed to hiring illegals or not really matters very little, because I am in no position to hire illegal aliens, obviously, there are many people who don't have a problem with doing it, otherwise the problem would not exist.

I think that we need to take steps to rectify the situation, and do so to our advantage. I see a great deal of economic benefits to the hiring of migrant workers, I believe in the positive effect of good immigration.

The first thing I think we have to deal with, is the fact that there are (reportedly) ten million illegal aliens living (and working) in the U.S., roughly half of them are Mexicans. Their presence needs to be addressed, and in while saying "deport them" is easy, doing it is a nearly impossible, No one has actually offered up any ideas on how to find, detain, and deport ten million people who have woven themselves into our society.

So yes, I support Bush idea of allowing for their coming out of the underbelly of society by granting them some sort of temporary legal status because it will encourage their returning home...most of these people would rather be a little wealthy back in Mexico as a result of having earned some money, than dirt poor and hated here.

Even if this plan only reduces the illegal population by half, it's worth it.

Bush also mentioned stepping up border security, a point being totally ignored by most around these parts.

Now, I think that the Bush proposal falls short of the mark because it failed to address the defense of our borders.

But, my definition of defending our borders is not the ridiculous one being thrown around in here, my definition of defending our border is to help Mexico's economy prosper to the point where Mexicans would be able to work at home and earn money.

I think that Bush's next step should be to expand NAFTA, and provide specific incentives for the economic development of Mexico's central and southern States, the region that most of our current illegals emanate from, and to help Mexico attain a 6% economic growth (half of China's current growth rate) yearly.

You see, our borders are not some imaginary line on a map that no one can actually see, the nations that border us, Canada and Mexico ARE our borders, and in protecting them, and helping them realize economic growth, we help our own cause.

>>Their presence needs to be addressed, and in while saying "deport them" is easy, doing it is a nearly impossible, No one has actually offered up any ideas on how to find, detain, and deport ten million people who have woven themselves into our society.<<

Not being contentious with you, your answers are well-reasoned, and I appreciate a reasonable discussion as I try to sort things out myself.

But it seems to me that this issue should be addressed before we invite untold more into the country to follow suit.

>>So yes, I support Bush idea of allowing for their coming out of the underbelly of society by granting them some sort of temporary legal status because it will encourage their returning home...<<

This bothers me too...we are talking about illegals who it seems to me would have little incentive to be come forward and be fingerprinted , I.D.'d, and have their mugshots taken so they can be identified later. After all, why do that, when they can obviously cross the borders already, and without paying any taxes or answering to Uncle Sam.

It doesn't add up.