~~~What do you undertand the objectives of this amnesty to be (part a)~~~
First of all, I understand that this is a program that Bush has put forth and that is completely subject to approval by Congress, who would have input (and output, if you will) to it.
Secondly, I'm not agreeing that it's amnesty.
And what I understand is what I read in the Congressional Research Service’s summary of the Administration’s proposal:
On January 7, 2004, President Bush outlined an immigration reform proposal, at the center of which is a new temporary worker program. (26)
According to the White House fact sheet on the proposal, the temporary worker program is intended "to match willing foreign workers with willing U.S. employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs." The program, which would grant participants legal temporary status, would initially be open to both foreign workers abroad and unauthorized aliens within the United States. At some future date, however, it would be restricted to aliens outside the country. The temporary workers' authorized period of stay would be three years and would be renewable for an unspecified period of time. Temporary workers would be able to travel back and forth between their home countries and the United States, and, as stated in the background briefing for reporters, would "enjoy the same protections that American workers have with respect to wages and employment rights." The proposal also calls for increased workplace enforcement of immigration laws.
The proposal would not establish a special mechanism for participants in the temporary worker program to obtain LPR status. According to the fact sheet, the program "should not permit undocumented workers to gain an advantage over those who have followed the rules." Temporary workers would be expected to return to their home countries at the end of their authorized period of stay, and the Administration favors providing them with economic incentives to do so. As stated in the fact sheet:
The U.S. will work with other countries to allow aliens working in the U.S. to receive credit in their nations' retirement systems and will support the creation of tax-preferred savings accounts they can collect when they return to their native countries.
Although it does not include a permanent legalization mechanism, the program would not prohibit temporary workers from applying for legal permanent residency under existing immigration law.
According to the Administration, the proposed temporary worker program should support efforts to improve homeland security by controlling the U.S. borders. The fact sheet states that "the program should link to efforts to control our border through agreements with countries whose nationals participate in the program," but does not elaborate further on this issue.
26. (back)The Administration did not offer a detailed legislative proposal. Some materials on the Administration proposal, however, are available on the White House website. The President's Jan. 7, 2004 remarks on the proposal are available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/print/20040107-3.html, visited Jan. 8, 2004. A fact sheet on the proposal, entitled Fair and Secure Immigration Reform, is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/print/20040107-3.html, visited Jan. 8, 2004. The transcript of a Jan. 6, 2004 background briefing for reporters is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/print/20040106-3.html, visited Jan. 8, 2004.
~~~and how in the world do we avoid it happening again in the future (part b)~~~
See above: set an absolute etched in stone deadline: no excuses excepted.
~~~will you support effective and significant measures to secure our borders and ports for the safety of Americans and America?~~~
Of course I would; whatever made you think I wouldn't. You think I want to die?
Why don't admit that you would rather die than oppose anything that Bush proposes?
The problem with that is this...
According to the White House fact sheet on the proposal, the temporary worker program is intended "to match willing foreign workers with willing U.S. employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs."
Illegal aliens are already matched with employers because they are working illegally. That gives them "an advantage over those who have followed the rules."