[Porterville]

What is the biggest detriment to the US economy due to the current policy and the proposed one?

Alright, the current policy encourages illegals to earn low wages and stay under the radar without paying taxes and sending monies outside of the country while companies hoard the labor and profit while not paying taxes on the black market of the labor. The Bush proposal stomps out all incentive. What good is it to hire an illegal alien (or any alien for that matter) if you have to pay them a real wage??? Companies will be forced to higher legal workers, and will most likely hire... English speakers.

[Beck_isright]

"The Bush proposal stomps out all incentive."

False. There are no severe penalties for employers nor massive enforcement efforts on all borders.

"Companies will be forced to higher legal workers, and will most likely hire... English speakers"

False again. Refer to above. 2000 INS enforcement agents. 20,000,000 illegals. I'll wager on the latter. The key is not to supress the illegals. It's to attack and penalize the employers.

[Richard-SIA]

You are kidding?

Companies that are comfortable with ongoing crime NOW, such as hiring illegals, will remain so as long as they think they can get away with it.

The Bush proposal will actually increase the number of illegals coming to the U.S., the "guest workers" will only serve to provide additional cover for the illegals.
It will be even easier to remain an illegal when they can blend into the increased number of "Mexicans*" apparent throughout the U.S.

*Mexicans = Loose term for illegal alien invaders, most of whom originate from South America.
In this case it must also include Chinese, Vietnamese, Russians, etc. who will also demand the same privilege of overwhelming our traditional American culture.