Posted on 10/16/2005 11:43:28 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
WASHINGTON — President Bush's ambitious plan to give millions of undocumented immigrants a shot at legal temporary work in the United States is dead in Congress.
Two hurricanes, two Supreme Court nominees, Republican in-fighting and the president's own slump in the polls have put Bush's "guest worker" initiative on the shelf for this year.
Instead of rallying behind the Bush temporary worker proposal, conservative Republicans are about to head in the opposite direction with legislation to crack down on undocumented immigrants and companies that employ them.
"Political momentum has changed in our favor," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., who leads a group of more than 80 House lawmakers who generally oppose expanding immigration.
Conservative Republicans have vowed to block any initiative that would give work visas to immigrants in the country illegally — even if the permits are good only temporarily.
In any case, lawmakers say they are just too busy to pay any attention to the Bush proposal.
"I think Katrina and Rita knocked it off the fall Senate calendar," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is sponsoring a bill modeled after Bush's guest worker initiative. "Given the crunch caused by two Supreme Court nominations, and Katrina and Rita, it's looking like January" will be the earliest the Senate will consider comprehensive immigration bills, Cornyn said.
But in 2006 — an election year — many Republicans won't be eager to wade into a contentious fight over immigration while also confronting rising gas prices and growing concerns over the war in Iraq.
The administration's guest worker proposal is the latest item on Bush's second-term agenda to go on life-support, joining now-stalled plans to overhaul the tax code and the Social Security system.
For Bush, the immigration debate is personal. He confronted the issue head-on as governor of Texas, which contains much of the nation's roughly 2,000-mile-long border with Mexico.
As governor, he also developed a friendship with Mexican President Vicente Fox.
As president, Bush has made revamping the nation's immigration laws a priority as part of Republican efforts to court the nation's Hispanic voters.
Corporate America — particularly agricultural businesses and the service industry — also has pleaded for a way to legally hire more foreign workers.
When Bush outlined his broad vision for rewriting the nation's immigration laws in 2004, the president said he wanted qualified undocumented immigrants to get temporary work visas that would be good, initially, for three years and possibly renewable for a total of six.
Bush said his initiative was designed to "allow willing workers to enter our country and fill jobs that Americans are not filling."
But the vague proposal — Bush said he was leaving the details up to Congress — immediately provoked widespread criticism from the left and the right.
Conservative Republicans said the president's plan would reward lawbreakers who had crossed U.S. borders illegally.
Democrats complained the initiative would give more than 10 million undocumented immigrants false hope by encouraging them to come out of hiding and seek visas guaranteeing them a one-way ticket home after six years.
The debate was so polarizing that Bush largely stopped talking about the issue altogether. But now, conservative Republicans — driven by the complaints of angry constituents who say the nation's borders are under siege — are preparing to push legislation focusing on stepping up the enforcement of immigration laws.
They say the federal government isn't doing enough to stanch the flow of immigrants across the nation's borders, leading some state and local government officials to take matters into their own hands.
In recent months, Arizona and New Mexico have declared states of emergency, citing the high costs of a surge in immigrants illegally crossing.
Hundreds of people have signed up as "Minutemen," voluntarily patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border.
Similar groups in Texas and California have recruited members to scout for undocumented immigrants.
"We have lost control of our borders and endangered the lives of Americans by not enforcing immigration laws," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio.
In Congress, proposals to revamp immigration laws range from those that would make it easier for undocumented immigrants to become residents to plans to seal off the borders altogether. Among them:
Legislation by Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., dubbed the "enforcement first" proposal, which would impose stiffer sanctions on companies that employ undocumented immigrants.
Under his bill, companies could face up to five years in jail and fines of up to $50,000 for each undocumented worker. His legislation also would end the practice of granting citizenship to any child born in the United States, unless at least one parent is in the country legally.
A proposal being drafted by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who heads the powerful House Judiciary Committee. His legislation also is expected to focus heavily on enforcement.
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Bingo! And maybe Conservatives would have more "trust" in him when he asks us to simply "trust him" on his nomination of Harriet Miers.
Prime Choice - EXCELLENT!! :)
SweetCaroline - I do the same thing, too!
Guest Worker Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
considering the time and expense that it takes for many fine people to become permanent residents and citizens in a legal way..the amnesty programs are an insult and stupidity.
The Republicans will loose mine and a lot of other votes if they don't act to secure our borders and throw out the current crop of illegals. Revising the immirgration laws back to the quality of the applicant, rather than the family relation would be a bonus.
Maybe.
Under his bill, companies could face up to five years in jail and fines of up to $50,000 for each undocumented worker. His legislation also would end the practice of granting citizenship to any child born in the United States, unless at least one parent is in the country legally.
A proposal being drafted by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who heads the powerful House Judiciary Committee. His legislation also is expected to focus heavily on enforcement.
Hayworth's proposal sounds a little draconian (what if the illegals have confincing fake documents, and how do you impose a jail sentence on a company?). Judging by his record, though, I'm sure Sensenbrenner's bill will be worth supporting.
Rep- Ariz J.D. Hayworth's "enforcement first" proposal provides $50k fines for each illegal and jail time for business owners hiring illegals.
Once a couple business owners are in jail and paying $50k fines, the jobs that bring illegals here will quickly dry up and the problem will take care of itself.
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!
Great ostrich image there! Funny as heck with the exaggeratedly long neck, head buried in the sand!
Conservatives are in favor of growing government to let it prevent private businesses employ who they would.
None of you should complain about outsourcing then after this.
What a shame, I hope the presidents proposals get ressurected...
There is one big problem here, the largest employer of illegals is not addressed: The Federal Government! Welfare, ADC, WIC, mandating hospitals treat illegals at no charge, etc.
Let's keep the pressure on to secure our borders and deport illegal aliens.
Does the word illegal mean anything to you?
Federal Immigration and Nationality Act Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii) .
8 USC Sec. 1325 (ILLEGAL ENTRY)
8 USC Sec. 1324 (Hiring an ILLEGAL)
8 USC Sec. 1644 ("No local ordinance, rule, or measure shall stop law enforcement officers from enforcement of this section")
8 USC Sec. 1325
Any alien who -
1. enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or
2. eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or
3. attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under Title 18 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under Title 18, or imprisoned not more than two years or both.
(b) Improper time or place, civil penalties - Any alien who is apprehended while entering (or attempting to enter) the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil penalty of -
(1) at least $50 and not more than $250 for each such entry (or attempted entry); or
(2) twice the amount specified in paragraph (1) in the case of an alien who has been previously subject to a civil penalty under this subsection. Civil penalties under this subsection are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be imposed.
(c) Marriage fraud - Any individual who knowingly enters into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than $250,000 or both.
(d) Immigration-related entrepreneurship fraud - Any individual who knowingly establishes a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined in accordance with title 18, or both.
Section 1324a states: "Any person who knowingly hires/harbors/transports any illegal alien is guilty of a felony punishable by 10 years jail + $2000 fine per illegal alien + forfeiture of the vehicle or property used to commit the crime".
Section 1324c states, "All officers whose duty it is to enforce criminal laws shall have authority to make arrests for a violation of any provision of this section" (affirmed US v Perez-Gonzalez 2002 Fed App 0360, 6th Circ.).
Section 1644, same title states, "No local ordinance, rule, or measure shall stop law enforcement officers from enforcement of this section" (affirmed Southern District Court of NY, US v Rudy Guiliani,1996).
Enforce the laws on the books Mr. President!!!!
Good! I don't trust Bush on this AT ALL, I think it needs to be addressed but I think the people of these United States are taking a good long look at Bush. He's way off base on this one.
Bush is too influenced by his daddy and his rich oil buddies, has no idea how the common people are affected. I believe he means well and his heart is in the right place but if he had to take a step down to the common man, he would learn a thing or two about the commen man (i.e. "voter). He just doesn't know what it's like to be a commoner.
You send them back with a note that says "no more money until you've protected the American citizens from invasion".
I'm all for legal immigration from a various populace around the world. An invasion from our southern border is not good for American people.
There will be no civil war, they will take over from within.
He has lost my vote. I suspect the white house is just figuring out that this issue will cost the republicans the next election too. Screw them. They had their chance. Stick a fork in them, they are done.
Secure the borders, boot out the trespassers and put employers of illegals in prison.
With going on 500,000 people out of work thanks to the Gulf hurricanes, a guest worker program makes little sense.
I'm 100% for it, problem is, we don't even enforce laws we have. Thank you President Reagan for the laws we have but we are not willing to enforce them, until then, more unenforceable laws are about as useless as the ones we currently have. Let's just throw some more money and more laws at the system. A useless occupation.
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