How does a guest worker program close the border? You like so many want to pretend history doesn't exist and we have nothing to go by when making policy.
Are you aware in 1990 Bush and Ted Kennedy teamed up to double legal immigration quotas using the argument that would cut down on illegal immigration by providing more visas? Now be honest Ben, did it work? I wasn't fooled then and I'm not fooled now.
No in the end I suspect we may or may not get something but any claim it will "choke off" illegal immigration will be proven false as it has countless times in the past.
So, when you mention that Kennedy And Bush did somthing in regard to visas back in 1990, I don't know what you are talking about because visa is a word that means different things depending on how it is used. It may be germaine, but I think it is better to discuss the issue at hand.
For example:
A compromise bill would allow X number of workers in on temporary work visas. It would also establish a plateau/method that allows previously temporary work visa holders to acquire permenant visas. It also establishes quotas.
In contrast, Bush/Cornyn would allow X number of workers in on temporary work visas and no-one gets a permenant visa. It also establishes quotas.
All temp work visas have quotas that can be changed depending the need. Tech worker visas were lowered during the recession and will be soon be raised as the economy expands. When the ag worker visa and non-ag worker visa get reformed, they too will be adjustable to needs.
We have had these ag and non-ag visas for many, many years. As Bush said, they are broken and need to be fixed. No doubt they worked well in the beginning but the dems snarled them up to benefit the unions. Had these work visas been allowed to change thru time to satisfy our need of guest workers, there would be very few illegals here.