Posted on 01/24/2006 4:19:22 PM PST by Aetius
Bush says guest workers could not stay By Stephen Dinan THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published January 24, 2006
President Bush yesterday said illegal aliens who take part in his guest-worker program would not be allowed to stay permanently. "I do not believe that any guest-worker program ought to contain amnesty because I believe that, if you granted amnesty to people here working now, that would cause another 8 million people or so to come here," he said in response to a question from the audience at a speech at Kansas State University. Mr. Bush said illegal aliens could join the guest-worker program, but they would have to go home just like future temporary workers from overseas.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
And as far as future guest workers are concerned (i.e. those that would enter once the system is implemented); to give them a path to citizenship outside of the normal legal immigration system and levels would be nothing less than a potentially massive increase in already mass levels of legal immigration. If one thinks that is a good idea, fine, but they should at least have the decency to separate the two and not bury such a provision w/in a deceptive guest-worker bill (as McCain-Kennedy does), knowing that public support for a genuine guest-worker program almost certainly outweighs support for increasing legal immigration.
So Flake, McCain, Kennedy, and other amnesty supporters should be upfront and honest and instead of downplaying the ramifications their bill might have on legal immigration, state it clearly and be willing to defend it.
The FDIC is working with the Chicago Mexican consulate to give home loans to illegal aliens. That program started in 2003, smack dab in Bush's watch.
The Bush administration also twisted arms to make sure that illegal aliens could use Matricula Consular cards.
"Cannot stay" would morph into "oops! I guess we can't deport them" within a couple years at most.
Those same people who say guest workers can't stay are currently also telling us that it would be unrealistic to deport all illegal aliens in the U.S. Not that it would be realistic to conduct mass deportations, but when they say both things they're admitting that they're lying.
Federal loans or guarantee programs to illegals should be, let me think..........
ILLEGAL!
Byzantine doesn't even begin to describe it..
In Mexico for example, a person who is not a citizen must obtain a work permit from the Department of Immigration unless you happen to have Inmigrado status. Inmigrado means you have been in Mexico for five years as a legal immigrant and have all the privileges of the Mexican citizen with the exception of voting rights. The seriousness of working without proper documentation in Mexico is reflected in the penalty should you be caught. The crime comes with a generous sentence of 18 months in a Mexican jail or deportation. Each global locale that requires work permits also has unique rules which apply. In the case of Mexico the work permit, if obtained, is good only for the employer specified on the documentation. Should you change employers, the lengthy process must begin anew.
and if they have a baby while they are here, that child being an american citizen?
OK, then you can stay.
Forget guest workers, if we need new americans - increase legal immigration for those who are law abiding, and want to come here.
President Bush is only there for 3 more years. Who knows what will be sworn in when he leaves office.
Troops on the borders, build the fence/wall, and remove all illegal aliens wherever they are.
We might as well accept that those who are now here are going to stay. So let's get started integrating them into our society (schooling for the kids and all).
That's just the fact, not an expression of approval.
Where is anyone going to get the police manpower to locate and round up 1,000,000 illegal Chinese (total), and who is going to buy a million airline tickets for them to go back to China?
Where is anyone going to get the police manpower to locate and round up 5-10 million hispanics? And how many buses is it going to take to send them home, and who pays for 10 million bus tickets? Even if they were already lined up at the terminals, it would be next to impossible.
So politicians will get a lot of mileage out of being "indignant" about illegal immigration; but the place to stop illegals is AT THE BORDER. Once they're past that,
you can just throw up your hands and help them adjust--
"Welcome to our new citizens" (who, btw, for the most part,
will make very good ones)
And by what logic does the President think that a group of people already here illegally will leave when the amnesty programs ends? Or that they would return home to register in the first place? Or will this just apply to the new crop of illegals?
I don't disagree. I mean, if we won't take stronger steps to deport illegal aliens, then what reason is there to expect that we would force legal guest-workers to leave once their term has expired? Unless, of course, it were the case that we had an administration and Congress willing to make sure they leave.
But for Bush, I can't help but take this as a small step forward. Anytime he speaks on the issue w/o resorting to parroting of tired, leftwing platitudes, I call that progress.
But clearly, actions speak louder than words. If we were to implement a guest-worker program, and if we intend for the 'guests' to eventually go home, then it must be made clear from the get go. In the absence of doing away with automatic birth-right citizenship (for those whom it was not intended that is), any program should also be strict about allowing 'guests' to bring their families along, because any children born while the guests are here would be citizens.
And I'm sure some would call this cold, but to me it is simply a call to keep separate matters separate. Maybe we truly need guest-workers, but we don't NEED their families. Again, some would say that is callous, but those who favor a guest-worker program usually advocate for it with rhetoric speaking to how much our nation is in dire need of it. It is presented almost as a business transaction. Well, if that is the case, and if the new Bush line (i.e. no path to citizenship) is genuine, then why undermine that stated belief by allowing entire family units to come, thus guaranteeing that they will carve out a life that leaves them unwilling to go home once their guest-term has expired? It makes no sense.
If they come to work and decide to stay despite the law...whose gonna round them up and ship them home?! us???
yeah right!! we can't do that now!!
DON'T LET THEM IN IN THE FIRST PLACE! lET THE MILLIONS THAT ARE HERE NOW DO THE PICKIN AND PLANTIN!
ping
Bush has been President for over five years. In that time he's made several statements on immigration reform and everyone of them sounding like backdoor amnesty. He'll have to do better then mere words at this point. Lets see some action from Bush before we give him any kudos for an issue he has ignored his entire time in office. If Bush endorses the immigration plan put forth by Cong Tom Tancredo, then I'll say the President is on the right track. Until them all Bush is doing is handing out more lip service. Bush remains a believer and supporter of open borders and the cheap labor and Hispanic votes he hopes it will bring to GOP bigwigs.
Here is Bush's press release from '04 and it states: "the program should not connect participation to a Green Card or citizenship"
Its not that you would have to physically round-up and deport all illegals. That's a canard (though we actually could do more of that, as Eisenhower did). Stricter interior enforcement would result in some level of self-deportation. And any concern about cost should be considered along side the fiscal and economic costs of illegal immigration to the nation.
That is why border security can't stand alone. One thing illegal immigration sympathizers do get right is that some would successfully enter illegally even with proper border security, so to basically say, as you do, that citizenship is the reward for all those who do is crazy.
And politically, it would be a boon for the Democrats and burden for the GOP, as most who went on to become citizens and vote would do so for the former.
ping
I'm very sorry to say it, but I do not trust anything Bush says on this issue. He no longer has any credibility on illegal aliens, immigration or amnesty.
sw
Does he plan to neuter all of them? If not, what's to prevent them from fathering or giving birth to an "Anchor Baby"? Can you spell Family Reunification?:
Green Card through Relatives or Family Members
Individuals who have close relatives or family members in the United States may be eligible to apply for permanent residency (green card) if the sponsoring relative is United States citizen or green card holder. The process of completing and submitting an application for a Green Card for your relatives can be both costly and confusing. The Green Card through Relatives application package makes the application process easy to understand. This is a step-by-step guide to help you file your Green Card application as efficiently and quickly as possible.
You may submit an application for a Green Card if you have a close family member who is a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder.
The sponsoring family member (the person who will sponsor you) can be your:
* Husband or Wife (please refer to our Green Card through Marriage section)
* Widow or Widower of a U.S. citizen
* Brother or Sister (including half-brothers and half-sisters)
* Son or Daughter (including illegitimate children) (A new cottage industry - Rent A Parent)
etc., etc.
Oh yeah right. Y'all have to go home now. Wink, wink.
Bush has NO credibility when it comes to immigration. None.
"We might as well accept that those who are now here are going to stay. So let's get started integrating them into our society"
You later state that this is just a fact.
Well you can accept anything you like, condor. But I happen to believe in the law. If anyone without proof of identity or citizenship, breaks a law in the US, including immigration law, they should be HELD and if convicted do the maximum prison time and then be deported across a gorgeous wall.
Not liking the paying for their care part very much either.
You can volunteer to pay more if you like. I am happy for you that you can afford it.
You want to take care of them? Buy a business in Mexico or Syria and hire them there.
You are entitled to your opinion.
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.