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."
Yep. The culpability runs from the top all the way down.
Which is why citizens like the Minutemen are having to do the jobs government doesn't want to do.
If you are talking about Deporting ... yes that is the feds responsibility .. because of legal reasons
But the States can report illegals to the feds
Are you saying the Border patrol Agents aren't doing their job?
Agreed, but the first part should be to stop the inflow of additional illegals. If we only did that then ones that are still here wouldn't be that much of a problem.
We are saying that the Border Patrol agency as a whole isn't doing its job.
They have tried, but they feds don't act on it. State and local authorities just give up.
Well .. that would include the Border Patrol Agents
And some have sent out memos to city employees not to cooperate with the INS or report illegals
It happened up here in Philly
Not if they're doing what their supervisors are telling them to do. In the case, the chief executive has allowed the border patrol agency to become just a token force that has no real effect.
No. Not at all. They are doing everything they can with not enough manpower and resources.
Go down to Jacumba, CA...one of the hottest areas along the border for drug and human trafficking. There is a fenced lot full of hundreds of Border Patrol 4-wheel drive vehicles. The problem? No Border Patrol agents to drive them!
And the few agents who are there to patrol that dangerous stretch of border are faced with a barrier that is full of holes, where it even exists.
At the momemt, the blame lies with the Executive whose sworn duty it is to prevent invasion of our country.
I dare you to say that to a border agent .. that they do nothing and are just a token force
Cooperation? From the Mexicans? About the only cooperation we'll get from them is to send us more illegals.
Good point and I agree that it's terrible policy.
BTW, I want to make it clear that I am not in favor of massive illegal immigrant round ups. I doubt that many other really are either.
I think if an illegal is caught in a crime then he or she be deported, but I would rather the pressure be put on employers. I don't want amnesty, per se, but massive round ups are not politically or logistically realistic. I also don't want the nation to become a place where everyone has to "show their papers".
I just want the southern border secured. If we just did that, then the current illegals really wouldn't be that much of a problem.
I will agree that they need more help
And thank you for not saying they do nothing and are just a token force
If the agency isn't given the resources or tools do stop secure the border then how could it not be considered a token force? Millions cross the border illegally every year - what sort of border patrol is that? The word token comes to mind.
They would still be a problem because they are still here and it's not an easy fix
That is the point I've been trying to make
I give up on you ... you don't want it listen, hear or discuss
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.