Posted on 03/04/2006 1:04:23 PM PST by Icelander
Homeland Security secretary says security of nation depends on it
March 4, 2006 — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Friday stressed the importance of a guest worker program for the security of the nation during a visit to Brownsville.
“We are in the midst of a serious discussion about a guest worker program,” Chertoff said Friday at Alice Walker Hope Park, which is on the bank of the Rio Grande with a view of Gateway International Bridge. “Not as amnesty, not a reward, but a constructive mechanism to allow migrants in the U.S. to assume a strong labor demand.”
A mandatory identification card and background check would accompany any such program, Chertoff said, as part of a comprehensive plan to address border violence.
A guest worker program would allow U.S. law enforcement agencies to spend more time focusing on “dangerous” elements “we really worry about,” rather than on the many thousands of people who come to the country seeking work, Chertoff said.
Chertoff was accompanied by Mexican diplomats to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
Secretary of the Interior Carlos Abascal and Secretary of Public Safety Eduardo Medina Mora joined Chertoff to speak about the plan that aims to reduce border violence.
“Cooperation is what will allow us to resolve these issues,” Abascal said of the new agreement.
Abascal pointed to a 37 percent decrease in migrant deaths and a 27 percent decrease in illegal crossings along the Arizona-Sonora border as a shining example of binational agreements providing tangible results.
Two-thirds of all Mexican migrants cross through this region, said Pedro Espíndola Flores, the national director of the Mexican Border Patrol, Grupo Beta. Agreements between the two countries have reduced border violence and illegal activity along both sides of the border, Espíndola added.
There were fewer migrant deaths despite more crossings this year than in 2000, Espíndola said, and that is a prime example of a successful cooperation between law enforcement on both sides of the border.
Continued cooperation between the two countries will lead to new solutions to problems with border violence, Abascal said, but it would not “produce magic results.” Facing increasing violence by criminal and drug gangs requires a plan of action, Chertoff said. The recently signed memorandum of understanding will serve as the foundation for that plan, adding to the already budding relationship between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies.
In December 2005 the Border Patrol held an academy in Mexico to train officials there on search and rescue techniques. U.S. Customs officials also spent time training their Mexican counterparts with the aim to secure the border for the benefit of both sides, Chertoff said.
Label it as you like.
LBJ called it "The Great Society"
Others say it's a $3? trillion social experiment gone bad
Ok. Without asking for specifics on these rulings, I'm not talking about volunteer work. I'm talking about being paid a living wage w/benefits (Perhaps I was not clear in my original post. If so, my apologies).
I'm hellbent of devising a system which will 1. match employers w/ needed alien labor 2. persuade the dependents of illegals to voluntarily go south ASAP. 3. have severe penalties for employer or employee violations
We are in agreement on the above with one exception to #1: match employers w/ needed legal alien labor. The guest worker program must not extend to those already in our country illegally but, to those who wish to come here legally. Slowly, illegals would self deport since they would be losing their jobs to legals. JMO
Head Guru of the anti-illegals, Mark Kirkorian, has said getting rid of the illegals would create economic chaos. Do you disagree with him?
REMEMBER THE ALAMO!!!!!!!!!!
Welfare recipients aren't interested/geographically situated to take advantage.
The guest worker program must not extend to those already in our country illegally but, to those who wish to come here legally. Slowly, illegals would self deport since they would be losing their jobs to legals.
Agree & I'm in favor of devising a system where they quickly self deport & using retinal scans/dna registration so they can't game the system &/or have their dependents remain here sapping freebies.
I call it robbery. The government in cahoots with the recipients. When they feel they are 'entitled' to part of the paychecks of those who actually work for a living and they do nothing in return, it is legaliged theft. Why can't those welfare recipients do the work that the so called illegals are here for? As long as we have work, the welfare recipients should be employed before any illegals.
Cuz there's, generally, several generations of squirting out welfare babies w/ no consequences & no edict to change.
It gets worse.
I think estimates put $.10-.25 of each welfare $ into the hands of the recipient.
If that's true, who are the real parasites ..govt. programs & govt. workers
Make it conditional in order to receive welfare benefits. Although minimum wage may not be enough for many people with families, welfare could subsidize their income at a great savings to the taxpayer. Besides picking fruits and vegetables, there are also other types of work they can do (laborer, landscaper, etc)which would rule out the problem of their current geographical location.
Michael Chertoff and Bush are jack asses and dead wrong on this...
If Bush came out an announced support for 2000 mile fence and moat...his approval rating would go from 37 to 65 in a week...
Rove is nothing more than a 'lucky' genius...if that
Whether we like it or not, at least they are putting in their time. I could accept helping the single mother on a temporary basis, BUT, I would make it clear that if a second child is born out of wedlock, they lose all assistance.
There is such a thing as new technology. W/O these harvesters we will have equipment to do it. Guaranteed. We will do it.
Not only that, but someone said that illegals were doing dishes in restaurants. Let the welfare people do those as well. I used to have to do dishes at a restaurant. At least its an honest paycheck!
The secret to the whole illegal mess is identification.
Most illegals have highly convincing fake ID and false Social Security numbers. Employers suspect they are fake, but actually face fines under current law by subjecting some employees to more scrutiny than others. Besides, their competitors hire hard working illegals as well and it just pays not to ask too many questions.
A verifiable, enforceable ID system and indemnifying employers so that they can accurately check validity could potential stop illegal immigration in its tracks.
With no jobs for them the illegals would no longer come here; simple as that.
And this would be bad how??? The government would still set the total numbers allowed in.
No--the problem is those here illegally. They must found and deported, and the flow of new ones in must be stanched.
How compliant of him... good boy, good boy!
I'm beginning to think my father is right: President Bush 2006 = President Lyndon Baines Johnson 1966.
“Not as amnesty, not a reward, but a constructive mechanism to allow migrants in the U.S. to assume a strong labor demand.”
So, now we know Chertoff-it is your job to placate the illegals, and the rest of us can take a hike as far as you're concerned.
Never heard of Caesar Chavez? He and Joan Baez and a host of nervous lawmakers got the program banned in the 60s. That raised the status of Mexican immigrants to the level they have now -- an untouchable minority supported at huge cost by the American taxpayer.
Their dream of unionizing the farm workers died when the workers obtained free-reign to live as they pleased in the US.
There's nothing wrong with a sensible guest worker program, except that it doesn't give a voting block to Democrats.
Chertoff is such a j**koff!
At least he will be unemployed shortly.
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