Posted on 11/29/2005 7:21:12 PM PST by 11th_VA
PRESIDENT George Bush has proposed offering the estimated 13 million illegal immigrants in the US three-year guest-worker visas.
Mr Bush said his plan did not amount to an amnesty for illegal migrants, almost 1 million of whom are estimated to enter the US from Mexico each year.
In a speech in Tucson, Arizona, near the Mexican border, he said illegal immigration was "a serious challenge and our responsibility is clear — to protect the border.
"The American people should not have to choose between a welcoming society and a lawful society," he said. "We can have both at the same time."
Under the proposal, the visas could be renewed for another three years if the migrants returned to their country of origin to apply.
Mr Bush announced his visa plan after saying that his Administration would beef up security along the 3200-kilometre border with Mexico and introduce the automatic detention of non-Mexican illegal immigrants, most of them from Central America, who in the past have been picked up, charged with immigration offences and then set free.
"When the date arrives for them to appear, 75 per cent of those released don't show up in court," he said.
"This practice of catch and release has been the government's policy for decades. It is an unwise policy and we're going to end it."
The Republican Party is divided over the issue of illegal migrants.
The vast majority of illegal immigrants enter the US from Mexico with the help of organised rings or family members and friends already in America. Hundreds die each year attempting the crossing from Mexico into Arizona, many of them from the harsh conditions in the desert.
The business wing of the Republican Party has lobbied hard for another amnesty on illegal immigrants, arguing that the economy would be badly damaged if there were a serious attempt to send back to Mexico millions of people who are prepared to do the jobs that Americans are not willing to do.
The illegal immigrants form the majority of America's 2 million farm workers and a significant proportion of construction labourers and service industry workers. They are mainly paid just above the minimum wage and generally do not receive health care or pension benefits. The US offered illegal migrants an amnesty in 1986 during the Reagan administration, when 3 million applied.
But the numbers arriving over the past decade have grown, leaving many Americans alarmed.
Polls have consistently shown that more than 65 per cent of Americans, most of them Republican voters, view illegal immigration as a top-ranking issue and a danger to US security.
With polls showing his support at a record low, Mr Bush has shifted ground on immigration since a key speech in January in which he said illegal immigrants were of fundamental importance to the US economy and deserved the chance to try to better themselves and their families and to become Americans.
The US Congress has spent much of this year battling to come up with an immigration bill that would receive majority support, but congressional leaders announced in October that the immigration debate would be adjourned until early next year.
Most conservative Republicans, especially in border states such as Arizona and Texas, are likely to reject Mr Bush's work visa proposal for illegal immigrants, which many see as a back-door amnesty.
Texas senator Kay Bailey, who represents the views of many Republicans in Congress, said illegal immigrants should be sent home before they could apply for guest-worker visas.
"We have to reward people who come legally and we do need certain types of workers," she said. "But we have to know who is in this country."
Remember when the worst case scenario was the LESSER of two evils? (taking a wrong and trying to make a right out of it just won't work!). Do they take us for idiots or just take us?
What the heck is this business about if they make it so many miles inside our country, then they're good to stay? Absolutely astoundingly absurd. It still amounts to a slap in the face of legal immigrants IMHO.
All the hoopla about not meeting social security funding and yet they permit anchor babies and put illegals on disability who say they have a drug problem. I've read about our wounded veterans being denied disability (and having to fight our government for it) and this infuriates me.
Our government allows 10,000 foreign religious visas annually good for up to 5 years. How many of them don't show up to renew or return (let alone how many are mullahs or imams)? It gets worse and worse with immigration policy. End of rant.
I won't disagree with you there
But look at it this way
If you own a business (especially a small business) could you afford the demands from the Unions??
Can they afford to pay a dishwasher $30 per hour plus benefits??
I am not saying what they are doing is right .. just pointing things out
I don't disagree with you
I was just trying to point out some of the things we up against in trying to fix this illegal problem we have
We are on the same side ..
Instead of calling Bush names, I would like to see one person on this thread propose some practical idea to get 13 Million people out of the woodwork, and become legal. Or, for that matter, explain to me how one goes about having law enforcement deport 13 Million Illegal alliens?
I submit to you, it's not possible. Today or any day. I know that the approach Bush and past presidents has taken were responsible for this mess, but there is simply no easy fix. I would support a complete sealing of the Border with walls, fences or whatever. But, we're never going to get 13 million people out.. Our only option is to make them legal residents who become subject to behaviorial discipline, finacial responsibility OR deportation.
A resident alien, or guest worker CAN be deported if they violate laws. This program just gets them on the books. I disagree with those who call it an Amnesty without a more logical idea to back up thier views
fixing the problem is easy...
but those here illegally must go home.
the will is the only item needed.
If it was easy ... we wouldn't have the problems we do today
If I recall .. California tried to block taxpayer funds for social programs for illegals .. and the voters agreed to it .. but the courts didn't
Yea yea yea .. whatever
ping
That would be a refreshing change
Easy.
A) Close down the border. When you're bleeding to death, the first order of business is to staunch the wound.
B) Remove the financial incentive for being here. That can be accomplished very quickly by making the hiring of illegals costly...very costly....to the employers. The Bush Administration has signally failed to do this...to simply enforce the laws that are already on the books. BTW, in his speech, you will notice that he didn't talk of punishing these scofflaws. Quite the contrary. He spoke of HELPING them!
C) Step up interior enforcement. Come on. Communities all over America have illegals everywhere now. It's no secret, and no mystery where to find them.
By the way, your 'thirteen million' figure is a joke. It's more like thirty million plus.
in the interest of national security...
we are near critical mass with this situation....
we, as a nation, must move quickly.
to not do, is to be done.
Washington, DC has to cooperate with this effort
or I believe _________
he!!, you fill in the blank, I know what I believe,
but you don't have to believe as I do.....
therefore if the alligator is to eat us....
so be it.
That would work for me.... and I think I would have found a new career!
Now... I believe this Republic is gone forever. Another reason to tell my children not to have children. Diana and Jeffrey will be lucky to be alive in 30 years.
Did you send that graphic to the WH?
so we should do nothing??
FRiend the republic isn't gone...
but we are going to have to fight to keep it...
Our founding fathers warned, as such, that there
would be these times.
Now we have entered "these times" again....
Good to see a FRiend.
I could support your ideas,
To do nothing is to be done.
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