Posted on 06/22/2005 7:06:27 PM PDT by bayourod
WASHINGTON - (KRT) - The White House is placing new emphasis on border enforcement to improve the prospects for President Bush's plan to provide temporary guest worker status to illegal immigrants.
The new focus, Sen. John Cornyn and others say, is a result of what the White House has heard from key members of Congress: No immigration liberalization plan will pass without first tackling tougher enforcement.
"What's been missing in the discussion about immigration reform is a strong commitment to border security," said Cornyn, a Texas Republican who chairs the Senate immigration subcommittee. Cornyn predicted the White House would soon issue its priorities for border enforcement.
The White House wouldn't confirm any imminent announcement. Bush "is working closely with Congress on ways to build upon the steps we have taken to strengthen our border security, said Bush spokesman Scott McClellan. He noted that the Border Patrol is receiving funds to hire new agents and use new technologies to detect illegal crossings.
The Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved nearly $1 billion in new funds for border security and immigration and customs enforcement.
Yet a congressional panel on Tuesday highlighted a weakness that has allowed illegal immigration to explode to 11 million to 12 million people: lax interior enforcement.
Congressional investigators said the number of investigations of companies suspected of employing illegal immigrants has plummeted in recent years. Federal investigators went after only three companies last year - down from the 417 firms fined in 1999, the General Accountability Office said.
The administration's focus on border enforcement follows an acknowledgment by Bush this month to congressional leaders that he needs to do a better job selling his immigration plan.
Immigration liberalization advocates and foes alike agree that a tougher White House message on enforcement could provide momentum for immigration changes.
"If they are going to move forward and get something passed, they have to get the Republicans in a position where they are comfortable," said Michele Waslin with the National Council of La Raza, which is pressing to legalize illegal immigrants' status.
Rosemary Jenks, director of government affairs for Numbers USA, a group seeking to reduce illegal immigration, said: "On the House side, for sure, there is already a huge push towards enforcement. And I think those efforts will be made easier because they will at least in appearance have the White House's support."
The Bush guest worker plan would permit illegal immigrants to obtain permits to work here legally for up to six years before returning to their homeland. The plan has been criticized on both sides - conservatives insist it's an amnesty; immigrant-rights advocates complain it doesn't provide for legal permanent residence.
Cornyn and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., intend to introduce a bill in July that includes a temporary guest worker plan, the details of which are being finalized. The border enforcement component would authorize over five years 10,000 new Border Patrol agents, 1,000 new immigration inspectors and $2.5 billion for border security technologies.
A rival bill by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., would provide guest workers a path to permanent residence, making them pay a $2,000 fee to legalize their status.
"This should satisfy everyone except the hard core anti-Bush crowd."
Give me a break. Is another 1,000 border patrol agents going to do much of anything? Especially when the funding can be cut the next year? And when the tide of illegals is further encouraged by amnesty.
What we need is enforcement against EMPLOYERS. Fines, and maybe JAIL TIME for the worst violators.
This is a false promise, and supporters of a secure, sovereign border need to recognize it as such.
Well it sounds great, but that is the short term problem. Until something MEANINGFUL and EFFECTIVE is put into place, none of this matters. Pardon the gross skepticism but it is not without cause.
If 1 Billion dollars doesn't satisfy you how much will?
Give it up. Every time you post you just make your side look more ridiculous.
...Too little, too late? Too much on the plate? Everyone will not be satisfied...
Yes, I do, but I preserve the idiocy of the people with idiotic statements for the rest of free republic to see.
My favorite profile page, however, was yours, when it said "this account has been banned or suspended"
Believe me, that is the best thing that could have ever happened for your cause. But now that you're back, it's a win for the border security crowd. Thanks for helping us out!
Results. We've been promised tougher enforcement before - BFD. This time secure the border first. THen we can talk about (another) guest worker plan.
***If 1 Billion dollars doesn't satisfy you how much will?***
So a billion more dollars to buy more 30,000 dollar air conditioned SUV's for the agents? More union members? I'd rather see the money spent on getting to Mars. The Minutemen have proven that just putting agents in lawnchairs will do more than throwing money at the problem. Until the mindset in Washington changes, no amount of money is going to solve the problem.
My my my isn't that so nice of our dear president to maybe dip his toe in the water to start enforcing the borders...I still remain skeptical that Bush will depart from his open border policies. He disgusts me on this issue.
Bayourod, you invite it. Racist, neanderthal, are not friendly words.
Just a few rewards from the Pro-Illegal crowd.
So lets all thank the Pro-Illegal traitors for helping to kill Children, Mothers and law enforcement officials
It will never be enough. It will always be something, anything.
bayourod old boy, There will NEVER be a Guest Worker program passed during Bush's presidency. You openborders apologists are investing in a company that's about to go bankrupt.
Ya wanna know why???
According to John Fund, Tom Delay 2 weeks ago told Bush there will be no movement on ANY Guest Worker program in the House this year even if Bush promises better "enforcement" because there is far too much opposition from Congressmembers constituents.
If the House refuses to go along with an Amnesty this year, The Guest worker program can't pass in 2006 because there will be tons and tons of competitive Senate races that year. And the Guest Worker plan can't pass in 2007 because by then every politician in DC will be preparing for the War To End All Wars in 2008.
The ONLY year Bush's plan is 2005, and Delay just nixed the idea of moving on it this year. (Delay's spokesman said publicly that the House won't move on a bill until 2006).
Unless Bush can pull off a miracle in 2006 by convincing the 60% of voters opposed to his idea that Guest Worker Amnestys are a good thing, the "imigration reform" you long for will never come to pass.
Check out the post below.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1422659/posts
I got an email from John Fund's Politcal Diary newsletter, and I can't post what was in it because of Copyright problems with the WSJ, so I will summarize what was sent to me.
Tom Delay and Roy Blunt told Bush at a meeting that the House will NOT move on any Guest Worker plan like Cornyn/Kyl or McCain/Kennedy or anything that Bush proposes until next year and ONLY then if Bush gets public approval for a guest worker program.
Bush was told that the Immigration issue is the ONLY thing GOP Caucus heard about from their constituents when they left DC for the Memorial Weekend break, and that GOP voters are fuming with rage over the lack of immigration enforcement coming from DC.
My opinion is that if the GOP doesn't pass a Guest Worker program this year, they can't pass anything in 2006 because of midterm elections, unless Bush miraculously convinces the public that a Guest Worker Amnesty is a good thing.
Ahem...this means you actually have to HIRE border patrol agents, President Bush.
Not satisfied. Its still a permanent residence and citizenship granting machine. And really, how much do you need to spend on the border when all but the worst of the worst can come work and stay through legal means?
A guest worker program is an essential element of securing the border.
By supplying sufficient legal workers it would reduce the demand for illegal ones. By allowing workers to cross at official ports of entry it would reduce illegal crossings between ports of entry.
By reducing illegal crossings by laborers it would free up border guards to catch and process the drug smugglers and people with criminal backgrounds who could not get guest worker visas.
At some point the antis are going to have to stop automatically opposing all plans to secure the border or else people will catch on that securing the border is not their first priority.
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