Posted on 08/27/2005 10:55:25 PM PDT by Happy2BMe
By RON FOURNIER
Associated Press
PHOENIX - Struggling to pacify his party's warring wings, President Bush is moving toward allowing illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before February 2004 to qualify for guest-worker visas. People smuggled in after then would be deported.
State leaders in Arizona and New Mexico have stepped up pressure on the Bush administration and the Republican-led Congress to better police U.S. borders and deal with an estimated 10 million people who are living in the country illegally.
"They're trying to split the baby," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in reference to the White House plan, "and I don't think they can do that."
Bush and his advisers are caught between their supporters in the business sector, who think the economy needs the workers, and conservatives whose priority is to clamp down on illegal immigration. The White House hopes to send a detailed proposal to Congress in late September or early October.
McCain, who ran against Bush for the 2000 GOP nomination and may seek the White House in 2008, is sponsoring a bill with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that would create 400,000 three-year visas for guest workers.
The legislation has the flexibility to add more in the future and would let undocumented workers stay in the U.S. while they apply.
A competing plan by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., would create two-year visas and require people to leave the U.S. before they can apply for the chance to work legally in the country.
Conservative House Republicans tend to favor Kyl's tougher approach. McCain mocks it.
"Turn yourself in so we can send you back to Mexico," said McCain, throwing his head back in laughter during an interview at his Arizona office last week. "It's not going to happen."
The White House seems to agree with McCain.
According to administration and congressional officials who took part in a series of White House meetings this summer, Bush does not favor requiring illegal immigrants to be sent home to apply for the visas.
In a nod to his conservative base, however, the president has rejected a part of the McCain-Kennedy bill that the White House thinks would put illegal immigrants on an automatic track to citizenship, the officials said.
I totally agree with you. And I am concerned, too. There are so many things that are not right about unchecked illegal immigration
For instance - how come other nations' citizens have to wait legally so long for immigration when illegals get so many perks here - for breaking the laws?
But my greatest concern is - who are we letting in by not having tougher borders?
I still say - let's dump our newly released criminals into Mexico - and let's see if Vincente Fox doesn't suddenly try to work something out to stop us from sending our undesirables into his country!
It's called: "tit for tat"!
GW is independent and conservative in many things - but if you read my other posts - you'll see I said that he is only making a policy that is Not consistent with his other decisions.
I believe that he is an independant thinker. It's just that I have watched the Bush family for years - and I am saying that this kind of policy is not something GW would normally recommend. It sounds like something his father/mother would recommend. I am not criticizing GW - I am saying - I think that is why he is so adamant about this plan of action.
Now, what am I missing here?
Actually, scratch my 15 year plan. I think they should never be eligible for citizenship, even though we would allow them to stay.
No Illegal Aliens!
???
Sentiment of love toward the ruler is more appropriate in monarchy. Isn't US supposed to be a republic?
On a daily basis I get more angry with GW. I am beginning he is the worse thing to happen to our country. He has quietly allowed our country to be overrun by illegals, and it will be almost impossible to get them out. Our school systems are in shambles because of II, or hospitals, our prison systems. The only thing these people cause is us to spend out tax money for them, while they are contributing nothing into the coffers. I really do not believe GW realizes how much of a problem he has, or he does not care as long as his rich friends get their cheap, benefit free labor.
I think that Bush's plan is fine if it is specified that they can't bring their families and they can't get earned income credit on their taxes using children in Mexico and they can't get government loans or assistance.
I was beginning to think all the BushBots had quietly slipped away. GW IS the worse thing to happen to our country in it's history, I believe.
By the way, we anti II posters here at FR use to get flamed every time we mentioned something against GW. However, within the past month all the BushBots have disappeared. His poll numbers are sinking lower than whale poop also.
No, no, no. You must love the President. Nothing else matter.
I think you are correct here. I would support impeachment TODAY.
All I know is that my neck of the woods has changed for the way way worse since 2000 as a result of these invaders. So long as GWB supports more of this nonsense, he can take his prescription drug bill, CFR bill, etc etc and b.s. someone else. I volunteered for him twice.
I almost feel if Kerry were elected, at the least the GOP in congress and senate would be more conservative and never go along with the present sell out of this country.
Considering how fast he crawfishes, thst's not a very safe place to stand. He should be affixed with one of those backing up beepers.
-People smuggled in after then would be deported.-
Uh-huh. THAT'll happen. They'll just be given a guest pass and be left alone.
No new laws until they start to enforce the laws already on the books. New laws are enacted merely to appear to be doing something. This is all a farce.
Who U Gonna BELIEVE?
------
You ONLY believe what actaully happens -- not what a bunch of politicians, especially ONE WORLD politicians, say. What they say is worth NOTHING. Haven't events over the past ten years in Washington taught us that??? FOR SURE!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.