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."
Call the White House Comment line and complain!!!!
get off your arses and do it!
I just did...twice!!!!
You remember correctly. You may have forgotten however that the House tried to fix that problem last fall. But, with the President's support, it got stripped out of the 911 Homeland Security Bill. It did not get passed until the House Leadership forced it through by attaching it to the first "must have" bill in 2005. Like almost everything having to do with Border Security, President Bush opposed this important fix. It is laughable that he is cynically trying to take credit for Congress's good work now.
If they only give these IDs to temporary workers they are going to be absolutely worthless. Somebody who is here illegally won't masquerade as a temporary worker. They will do exactly what they are doing now which is to pretend like they are legal citizens. Then they won't need one of those tamper proof ID's. They will just need one of those silly little blue and red scraps of paper we call a Social Security Card that can be reproduced on any color copier.
If the President was serious (which he obviously is not), he would be proposing tamper proof social security cards for everybody who is entitled to work.
Your welcome.
I work for Customs and Border Protection as a CBP Officer at our Ports of Entry.
CBP can do no more then it is allowed to do. If the WH was really concerned about illegal immigration, then it would let ICE and CBP do it's job.
BUMP!
Don't give something away that might identify yourself. So be careful. QUESTION: Do you inspect things coming into the USA or people?
Last time I returned here (by air) I had some dried fruit from Israel. I told the inspector and he waved me thorough
It's been posted on FR hundreds of times.
Stop employers from hiring illegals, cut off welfare to illegals and enforce the 14th Amendment as it was intended, and 90% of your illegals will leave on their own at no cost to the American public.
TRUTH! Another friendly bump to the TRUTH!
Impossible.
You are correct nothing is counterfeit proof including our money, I should have said a much improved Counterfeit resistant SS card complete with internal checks such as on I-551's. Unfortunately now documents that can be spotted as false from 30 feet by sharp I.I.'s are being used by employers to get off the hook when they hire illegals. A database or other method of checking validity with officials is needed for employment documents.
We as a Nation don't tolerate discrimination in employment and one way to prevent employers from discriminating because of fear of sanctions is with a National I.D. to verify employment eligibility. After 9/11 everyone should be more open to the idea that we have to secure our borders and a national I.D. is a small price to pay. In reality few people can function normally in our current society without identifying themselves to get a driver's license, bank account etc. It won't cure everything but it will help a great deal.
I inspect people.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
Correct and Congress approved such in 1996 but has refused to fully implement it because big business is against it.
The rest of your post is 100% correct.
Bear-Stearns determined a year ago that there were 20 million illegals. The present bureaucracy can't even handle the visa load we have now. There are 3.6 million visa overstays that the governement will admit to now roaming aroud the USA and we can't find them. How do you think they'll handle another 20 million?
We can find them, the Government just wants you to believe we can't.
Savage has been saying the same for quite some time.
Thanks!!
You make alot of assumptions.
Probably because you are the first three letters of that word.
Yeah and many of those young AMERICANS are overseas fighting your wars. How you insult them!
As for your bragging about Bush's "efforts" in your other posts:
1. Bush fought tooth and toenail to avoid signing the defense appropriations that covered the fence in San Diego, Real ID, surveylance. Last fall, he and Snow, etc. in the Senate got that all removed from the bill. Sensenbrenner pushed again this year and Mr. "never veto" finally signed it.
You are really clever, that really put me in my place and won the debate for you. Skipping school today?
Your assumptions about my age, business experience and educational status are as accurate as your assumptions about the immigration issue.
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.