Bush: Raise (Immigration) Limit for Mexico

The Washington Times ^ | 08-07-2004 | Bill Sammon

[NewRomeTacitus]

President Bush yesterday called on Congress to increase the number of Mexican immigrants allowed into the United States.

"I support raising the quotas on certain population groups, like the Mexican nationals, on who can become a citizen. In order to solve the logjam for citizenship, Congress has got to raise the quotas."

Having long sought to grant legal status to illegal aliens from Mexico, the president said yesterday that the only way to enact his plan is to allocate more legal-immigration slots to Mexicans.

"The issue there is whether or not people automatically get to step in the front of the line when it comes to citizenship," he said. "I don't think they should. I think those who have been waiting in line to be a citizen ought to be allowed to keep that priority in line."

Mr. Bush did not explain how non-Mexican applicants for U.S. residency would keep their place in line if the quota for Mexican immigrants is enlarged. Nor did he quantify his proposed enlargement for Mexicans, who already far outnumber immigrants from every other nation.

The president's plan to relax immigration rules, which is unpopular among many conservatives, entails granting legal status to millions of Mexicans who break the law to enter the United States. Mr. Bush shuns the term "amnesty," preferring to call it the matching of "willing workers with willing employers."

"People ought to be allowed to be here legally to work. That's what I believe. This will help bring people out of the shadows of our society. This will help, kind of, legalize a system that takes place every day, without employers...or employees feeling like they're going to be arrested, subjected to fines," he added.

[FITZ]

His party is losing all over --- PRI won Durango and Chihuahua and the leftist party PRD won in Zacatecas. The immigration issue isn't helping the PAN party in the least --- so it's doubtful it will help the Republicans.

[lt.america]

Hear Hear. The government dependency point is what is not being addressed in this whole situation. I bet if all costs were considered by making illegals citizens it would be a minimal gain to the economy as opposed to a serious strain on taxpayers(they will bring more of their family over from Mexico and you must figure in health care, bilingual posts that must be manned in government offices and in schools, and other misc public assistance programs such as WIC).

This whole issue has turned into sickening political pandering and hopefully after Nov. 2 we will be able to take a more objective look at this situation.

[Owen]

>
I demand that we count the illegals as part of Mexico's allocation.
I agree. Why shouldn't we?
>

Isn't this what Bush just said to do? And simultaneously increase the limited number allowed?

[South40]

"I support raising the quotas on certain population groups, like the Mexican nationals, on who can become a citizen. In order to solve the logjam for citizenship, Congress has got to raise the quotas."

So he wants to give ILLEGALS citizenship?

I guess that settles that debate.

[NewRomeTacitus]

I demand that we count the illegals as part of Mexico's allocation.
I agree. Why shouldn't we?

I thought that was a back-reference to a good idea some of us have been kicking around - take every cent illegals drain from our social services out of foreign aid that usually goes to their home countries. Mexico would have to pay us for the balance.

By the way, everyone; it's official: Mexicans legal and illegal now make up 10% of the U.S. population. I didn't catch if that included U.S. citizens of Mexican descent (I believe you're either one or the other and don't believe in dual loyalties).

[bayourod]

"Our President is determined to put his pro-Mexican/illegal employer agenda above the wishes of the vast majority of citizens "

You're wrong.

The vast majority of Americans are not racists xenophobes.

The vast majority of Americans are not chronic losers who can't keep a job and have to have someone else to blame.

The vast majority of Americans are not jealous of Hispanic men.

The vast majority of Americans do not need some group to hate in order to assuage their own feelings of inadequacy.

The vast majority of Americans are not sociopaths who can't function normally in a multi-cultural society and global economic/political environment.

The vast majority of Americans recognize the need for immigrant labor to sustain a growing economy.

The vast majority of Americans aren't members of labor unions that extort unreasonable wages for subpar work.

The vast majority of Americans appreciate the higher standard of living made possible by immigrant labor.

The people opposing immigration are a very tiny minority of malcontents who are despised by the vast majority of Americans. How many are there? Buchanan, using millions of dollars of private and government funds, ran a massive anti-immigrant campaign aimed at racists and xenophobes and only got four tenths of one percent of the vote. They can't even express their true opinions in public because they know that the vast majority of Americans recognize them for what they really are.

[sarasmom]

"The vast majority of Americans are not racists xenophobes."
I don't like criminals.Does that make me xenophobic?

"The vast majority of Americans are not chronic losers who can't keep a job and have to have someone else to blame."

I have worked my entire life.So have many of my friends who used to be able to get work in construction, services, etc.I have to provide proof of identity. I(we) are easily able to do so, since we are not criminals.

"The vast majority of Americans are not jealous of Hispanic men."
What's to be jealous of? Seriously, do you think Hispanic males are somehow more ???? than other males? I think you have a problem.


"The vast majority of Americans do not need some group to hate in order to assuage their own feelings of inadequacy."
No, we don't. But it is not a matter of "feelings" that make me despise those who are actively contributing to a downward spiral of civility in my own country.That would be you, and people just like you.

"The vast majority of Americans are not sociopaths who can't function normally in a multi-cultural society and global economic/political environment."
You seem to just keep escalating the "nuances" of name calling, not making any logical points.

"The vast majority of Americans recognize the need for immigrant labor to sustain a growing economy."
Legal immigrant? Yes. Illigal immigrant? Get real.

"The vast majority of Americans aren't members of labor unions that extort unreasonable wages for subpar work."
Never have I worked for a union.


"The vast majority of Americans appreciate the higher standard of living made possible by immigrant labor."

What higher quality is that? The one where you feel just fine about me paying higher taxes and inflated insurance premiums so you can wring out a few more percentage points of profit and get a cheap maid or lawn service?
The higher quality of life in my lower middle class neighborhood?
The higher quality of life in public schools? The mall? The local park?
Exactly what higher quality of life are you talking about?
Must be somewhere behind that gated community you live in.
I saw plenty of those places when I spent time in third world countries.
Lots of people seem to be benefiting from that higher quality of life, just not the illegal aliens they laud so loudly.
They seem to be the same type of people who thought slavery was a fine institution, as long as they were the slave owners, and not the actual slaves.

BR>

[B4Ranch]

You can call me any name you wish to with my permission because I know that it makes you feel like a big powerful controller.

The facts remain this Republic was meant to have sovereignty which means sovereign borders. I have no personal hate for Hispanics who obey the immigration laws when entering the United States.

Criminals I have no use for whatever their race, creed or color. Apparently lawbreakers are not one of your concerns.

We currently have a President who is not fulfilling his Oath of Office because he is restricting the detention and capture of illegal aliens.

If you are proud of that fact, yes FACT, then you need to check what patriotism and sovereignty means because our falsely patriotic President isn't too concerned with those issues.

The last things in the world I oppose is emigration or immigration. America is settled by immigrants.

I do have this kink in my character that does require immigrants and citizens to obey our laws. Unfortunately this includes our President too. The man swore to a contract which he is not upholding. I find this detestable.

If you have any questions regarding my opinion on any subject, religions excepted, I will give you my full and honest answer. Will you do the same?

[bayourod]

"I don't like criminals.Does that make me xenophobic?"
If you fear immigrants because you believe they are all violent criminals, that makes you a xenophobe in the clinical sense. If you are simply saying that you don't like immigrants who are out of status, then you should support President Bush's proposal to bring them into status so you will no longer have to dislike them.

"many of my friends who used to be able to get work in construction, services, etc."
It's always "my friends.." isn't it? Well if your friends can't find work in this tight labor market there is something wrong with them. Do they perhaps sit around bars all day whining about Mexicans while their wives are waiting tables to make their truck payments? Your "friends" are lazy losers.

"What's to be jealous of? "
Real men who are willing to leave their families, travel thousands of miles and risk their lives to support their families. Real men who don't mind doing hard, dirty work in the hot sun, and giving it their best effort. If your "friends" were half the men that most Mexican laborers are, they wouldn't have any problem finding work and keeping a job.

"make me despise those who are actively contributing to a downward spiral of civility in my own country"
We're back to xenophobe now.

"Legal immigrant? Yes. Illigal immigrant? Get real. "
Then you should support President Bush's proposal to make them legal. You would then have no problem with them.

"What higher quality is that?"
I'm sorry you are not participating in the greatest sustained era of prosperity in our nations history, but blaming immigrants isn't going to change your situation. Don't look to the government to solve your problems and you won't be disappointed.

[WhiteGuy]

Hey El presidente arbusto,

Thanks for putting AMERICANS first.

Paul/Tancredo 2004

[raybbr]

You are the racist. You think hispanics are better than everyone else.

[bayourod]

"You can call me any name you wish to with my permission "

I use "names" that are factually accurate, not names like "assh@le" or such.
A "xenophobe" is someone who fears or hates strangers or foreigners. If you hate or are afraid of immigrants because you think they are criminals, taking jobs away from you, littering, stealing from you, diluting your culture, destroying our infrastructure, etc.. then you fit the definition.

It's amazing how many people will express outright hatred and fear of immigrants and then get upset when then are described as xenophobes.

If the term wasn't xenophobe it would be something else. But a rose by any other name ...

[B4Ranch]

>>A "xenophobe" is someone who fears or hates strangers or foreigners. <<

Gosh, you really have more personal problems than I do. I don't fear or hate strangers or foreigners. I do not like lawbreakers, yes criminals. I do not associate with felons, rapists or robbers. Violent criminals are worthy of my friendship either.

Take a peak here and you will see who I am referring to.http://www.lapdonline.org/most_wanted/

Liars aren't a breed I chase after neither. Our President appears to fit this description very well. He hold the UN Charter high in his mind while standing on the US Constitution. Sad, very sad that you should support a person such as this.

[bayourod]

"You think hispanics are better than everyone else. "

No, they're just better than the people who blame them for their inability to compete with them in the labor market.

Not all Hispanics are mowing lawns at minimum wage. Some are operating heavy equipment at $60 per hour; others are construction foremen, skilled bricklayers, sheetrock hangers, floor installers, machinists, roofing contractors, wholesalers, etc...

These are the ones that most anti-immigrants are jealous of, not the ones digging trenches and carrying tar buckets.

But if you're not willing to start at the bottom and work your way up, you'll never have one of the high paying jobs.

You don't see sussessful people complaining about immigrants.

[bayourod]

"I don't fear or hate strangers or foreigners. I do not like lawbreakers, yes criminals. I do not associate with felons, rapists or robbers."
So you equate all immigrants with felons, rapists or robbers. Fortunately you are in a very tiny minority.

"Liars aren't a breed I chase after neither. Our President appears to fit this description very well."
It doesn't take long to flush out the Bush-haters does it. Since Buchanan isn't on the ballot this year who are you going to vote for? Kerry?

[judgeandjury]

If you are simply saying that you don't like immigrants who are out of status, then you should support President Bush's proposal to bring them into status so you will no longer have to dislike them.

What is this "immigrants who are out of status" BS? Are you referring to illegal alien lawbreakers? The vast majority of Americans don't agree with giving amnesty to illegal alien lawbreakers because that would be to reward lawbreaking. Your pretzel logic of giving legal status to illegal aliens so that we'd no longer feel the need to dislike them is just plain kooky. I guess we could make bank robbery legal so that we wouldn't feel the need to hate bank robbers anymore because they wouldn't actually be committing a crime by "taking money that isn't theirs" from a bank.

[Doe Eyes]

OMG I am speechless. I am not going to vote for Bush

You must be new here. Everything is Clinton's fault.

[Dan from Michigan]

This is going to KILL us in the fall if he keeps this up. Absolutely kill us.

This won't play well in most of Michigan, outside maybe parts of Grand Rapids and part of Lansing.

[judgeandjury]

If your "friends" were half the men that most Mexican laborers are, they wouldn't have any problem finding work and keeping a job.

Knock off your racist BS.

[B4Ranch]

I think you should reduce your alcohol intake or perhaps your prescription drugs are not compatible.

You quit making sense with the first post and haven't improved.

Signed
Your friendly, principled, fellow FReeper.