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President's Radio Address (March 25, 2006)
The White House ^ | March 25, 2006

Posted on 03/25/2006 10:07:58 PM PST by skandalon

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On Monday, I will attend a naturalization ceremony here in Washington. It's always inspiring to watch a group of immigrants raise their hands and swear an oath to become citizens of the United States of America. These men and women follow in the footsteps of millions who've come to our shores seeking liberty and opportunity, and America is better off for their hard work and love of freedom.

America is a nation of immigrants, and we're also a nation of laws. And our immigration laws are in need of reform. So at Monday's ceremony, I will discuss my vision for comprehensive immigration reform that will secure our borders, improve enforcement of our immigration laws, and uphold our values.

Comprehensive immigration reform begins with securing our borders. Since I took office, we've increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and the Department of Homeland Security has caught and sent home nearly 6 million illegal immigrants. To improve security at the border, we're hiring thousands more Border Patrol agents. We're deploying new technology, like infrared cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles, to help our agents do their job. And we're installing physical barriers to entry, like fences in urban areas.

We're also working to end the unwise practice of catch-and-release. For decades, many illegal immigrants were released back into society soon after they were caught, because we did not have enough detention space. So we're adding more beds so we can hold the people we catch, and we're reducing the time it takes to send them back home. When illegal immigrants know they will be caught and sent home, they will be less likely to break the rules, and our immigration system will be more orderly and secure. We're making good progress, but we have much more work ahead, and we will not be satisfied until we have control of our border.

Comprehensive immigration reform also includes strengthening the enforcement of our laws in America's interior. Since I took office, we've increased funding for immigration enforcement by 42 percent. We're increasing the number of immigration enforcement agents and criminal investigators, enhancing work site enforcement, and going after smugglers and gang members and human traffickers.

Finally, comprehensive immigration reform requires a temporary worker program that will relieve pressure on our borders. This program would create a legal way to match willing foreign workers with willing American employers to fill jobs that Americans will not do. By reducing the number of people trying to sneak across the border, we would free up our law enforcement officers to focus on criminals and drug dealers and terrorists and others who mean us harm.

One thing the temporary worker program would not do is provide amnesty to those who are in our country illegally. I believe that granting amnesty would be unfair, because it would allow those who break the law to jump ahead of people who play by the rules and wait in the citizenship line. Amnesty would also be unwise, because it would encourage waves of illegal immigration, increase pressure on the border, and make it more difficult for law enforcement to focus on those who mean us harm. For the sake of justice and for the sake of border security, I firmly oppose amnesty.

In the coming days, the United States Senate plans to consider proposals on immigration reform. This is an emotional debate. America does not have to choose between being a welcoming society and being a lawful society. We can be both at the same time. As we debate the immigration issue, we must remember there are hard-working individuals, doing jobs that Americans will not do, who are contributing to the economic vitality of our country.

To keep the promise of America, we must enforce the laws of America. We must also ensure that immigrants assimilate into our society and learn our customs and values -- including the English language. By working together, we can meet our duty to fix our immigration system and deliver a bill that protects our country, upholds our laws, and makes our Nation proud.

Thank you for listening.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amnesty; bush; bush43; deportallinvaders; guestworker; illegalimmigration; immigration; shamnesty
Here it comes, whatever it may be. This is what all the protests in the last couple days have been for. Contact your senators.
1 posted on 03/25/2006 10:08:02 PM PST by skandalon
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To: skandalon
One big question remains:

Will it be a shamnesty or a scamnesty?

2 posted on 03/25/2006 10:20:01 PM PST by NapkinUser (Secure our borders, no amnesty.)
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To: skandalon

"...to fill jobs that Americans will not do."

It's shocking to me that any American president would make a de facto statement that Americans will not do certain jobs. That is an insult to every unemployed American looking for work, or any American working in a menial position!

I rarely criticize Pres. Bush. I know this is almost a throw-away line, but it's revealing: what is this man's real understanding of Americans? I can imagine almost anyone making this degrading statement except the leader of our country.


3 posted on 03/25/2006 10:26:43 PM PST by baa39
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To: baa39

I feel betrayed that this president has an apparent policy of open borders, especially after september 11. Osama is laughing his butt off.


4 posted on 03/25/2006 10:33:22 PM PST by mirkwood (Gun control isn't about guns. It's about control.)
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To: skandalon

I wonder what idiot would try to follow Bush's clown act.


5 posted on 03/25/2006 10:34:57 PM PST by jwh_Denver (If liberals had any brains they wouldn't use them anyway.)
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To: skandalon

6 posted on 03/25/2006 10:47:29 PM PST by Ladycalif (She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain. -- Louisa May Alcott)
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To: skandalon; All
From: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación

EL PRESIDENTE: Buenos Días. El próximo lunes asistiré a una ceremonia de naturalización aquí en Washington. Siempre es motivo de inspiración ver a un grupo de inmigrantes alzar sus manos y tomar un juramento para ser ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos de América. Estos hombres y mujeres siguen en los pasos de millones que han venido a nuestras orillas en busca de la libertad y de la oportunidad, y Estados Unidos está mejor como resultado de su dura labor y de su amor por la libertad.

Estados Unidos es un país de inmigrantes - y también somos una nación de leyes. Y nuestras leyes de inmigración necesitan ser reformadas. Por lo tanto, en la ceremonia del lunes, hablaré de mi visión por una reforma migratoria integral que asegure nuestras fronteras... que mejore el cumplimiento de nuestras leyes de inmigración... y que mantenga nuestros valores.

La reforma migratoria integral comienza con la seguridad de nuestras fronteras. Desde que asumí la presidencia, hemos aumentado los fondos destinados a la seguridad fronteriza en un 66 por ciento, y el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional ha capturado y enviado a sus casas a cerca de seis millones de inmigrantes ilegales. Para mejorar la seguridad en la frontera, estamos contratando a miles de agentes más para la Patrulla Fronteriza. Estamos usando nueva tecnología como ser cámaras infrarrojas y vehículos aéreos sin tripulación para ayudar a nuestros agentes a desempeñar su trabajo. Y estamos instalando barreras físicas a la entrada, tales como cercas en zonas urbanas.

También estamos buscando terminar con la práctica errada de "capturar y liberar". Durante décadas, muchos inmigrantes ilegales eran liberados de vuelta a la sociedad poco después de ser capturados, ya que teníamos poco lugar para detenerlos. De modo que estamos añadiendo más camas para poder retener a las personas que capturamos, y estamos reduciendo el tiempo necesario para enviarlos de regreso a sus casas. Cuando los inmigrantes ilegales saben que serán capturados y devueltos a sus casas, será menos probable que violen las reglas - y nuestro sistema de inmigración será más ordenado y seguro. Estamos logrando buen progreso - pero tenemos todavía mucho trabajo por delante, y no estaremos satisfechos hasta tener control completo de nuestra frontera.

Una reforma migratoria integral también incluye fortalecer el cumplimiento de nuestras leyes en el interior de Estados Unidos. Desde que asumí la presidencia, hemos aumentado los fondos para cumplimiento migratorio en un 42 por ciento. Estamos aumentando el número de agentes de cumplimiento migratorio y de investigadores criminales... mejorando el cumplimiento en el lugar de trabajo... y persiguiendo a contrabandistas, miembros de pandillas y traficantes humanos.

Finalmente, la reforma migratoria integral requiere un programa de trabajadores huéspedes que aliviará la presión en nuestras fronteras. Este programa crearía una manera legal de juntar a trabajadores extranjeros que quieran trabajar con empleadores Estadounidenses que quieran llenar empleos que estadounidenses no quieran desempeñar. Al reducir el número de personas que traten de pasarse la frontera, podríamos liberar a nuestras autoridades judiciales y policiales para que se dediquen a criminales, narcotraficantes, terroristas, y otros que nos quieran hacer daño.

Una cosa que el programa de trabajadores huéspedes no haría es dar amnistía a aquellos que están en nuestro país ilegalmente. Yo creo que conceder amnistía sería injusto, ya que permitiría a los que violan la ley a pasar por delante de personas que cumplen con los reglamentos y se ponen en fila para hacerse ciudadano. La amnistía también sería insensata ya que alentaría a olas de inmigración ilegal, aumentaría la presión en la frontera y haría más difícil que autoridades judiciales y policiales se puedan dedicar a aquellas personas que nos quieren hacer daño. Por el bien de la justicia y de la seguridad fronteriza, yo me opongo firmemente a la amnistía.

En los próximos días, el Senado de Estados Unidos piensa considerar propuestas sobre la reforma migratoria. Este es un debate emocional - y debemos conducir el debate en una manera que sea propia de la historia y las tradiciones de Estados Unidos. Estados Unidos no tiene que escoger entre ser una sociedad acogedora o ser una sociedad legítima. Podemos ser ambas cosas a la vez. A medida que debatimos el tema de la inmigración, debemos recordar que hay personas que trabajan duro desempeñando los empleos que estadounidenses no quieren hacer, que están contribuyendo a la vitalidad económica de nuestro país.

Para mantener la promesa de Estados Unidos, debemos hacer cumplir las leyes de Estados Unidos. También debemos asegurarnos que nuestros inmigrantes se asimilen en nuestra sociedad, y aprendan nuestras costumbres y nuestros valores - incluyendo el idioma inglés. Trabajando juntos, podemos cumplir con nuestro deber de arreglar el sistema de inmigración - y proporcionar un proyecto de ley que proteja a nuestro país, haga respetar nuestras leyes, y haga que nuestra Nación sea orgullosa.

Gracias por escuchar.

7 posted on 03/25/2006 10:49:16 PM PST by Conservative Firster
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To: skandalon
These protests are not a happenstance, they are the result of careful planning by the PTB, this is a high level operation aimed at swaying public opinion. Next, they will bring out the big guns, and ask if we dare risk the civil unrest, during a time of war. IOW, we are un-American to want something done about Illegal immigration. Whether we want it or not, GW is going to open the floodgates that amnesty will cause.

This invasion, and that is exactly what it is, will bring this country down, in the same manner as Rome. How many will sit in the darkness, and call it light? How many will rue the day that hope burned dim, while we sat transfixed by political maneuverings, instead of going to the barricades?

Claire, what time is it?

8 posted on 03/25/2006 10:53:20 PM PST by jeremiah (How much did we get for that rope?)
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To: skandalon

I don't listen to what used to be my President anymore. He has sold out America to illegal immigrants, and spends money on worthless domestic socialist programs faster than the proverbial drunken sailor on leave.


9 posted on 03/25/2006 11:48:55 PM PST by Cobra64
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To: baa39
"...to fill jobs that Americans will not do."

I rarely criticize Pres. Bush. I know this is almost a throw-away line, but it's revealing: what is this man's real understanding of Americans? I can imagine almost anyone making this degrading statement except the leader of our country.

So, do you want to pick cotton for meager wages? Or oranges, apples, etc? Do you want to clean up after someone's else's dirt and crap? I'm sorry but there are a lot of jobs out there that he's right about, if he wasn't, then why is it that illegals & minorities are doing them?
10 posted on 03/26/2006 12:19:37 AM PST by garylmoore (Homosexuality: Obviously unnatural, so obviously wrong.)
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To: skandalon
"Since I took office, we've increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and the Department of Homeland Security has caught and sent home nearly 6 million illegal immigrants."

Bush usually says what he means but this is the most (purposefully I believe) deceitful statement Ive ever heard out of his mouth. I believe the casual listener is meant to be fooled by that comment into believing that 6 million illegals who have been in country have been deported. These 6 million were obviously caught at the border.
11 posted on 03/26/2006 7:45:04 AM PST by mthom
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To: skandalon
I will discuss my vision for comprehensive immigration reform that will secure our borders, improve enforcement of our immigration laws, and uphold our values.

Is the message getting through?

12 posted on 03/26/2006 7:48:41 AM PST by kimosabe31
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To: skandalon

Deport them all. Imprison or deport those who abet them. Any leader who calls for less is incompetent or worse.


13 posted on 03/26/2006 8:23:11 AM PST by John Filson
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To: garylmoore

How many millions of people now drawing a govt check, are perfectly suited for this kind of work? Nearly all I would bet. We allow illegals to work at any age picking fruit, but our children must not be bothered to learn how to work, reform labor laws to allow children as young as 12 to work. A 16 year old should be allowed to work full time if they want to. As for those drawing welfare, or a "disability" such as aching feet, bad back, or addiction, put them to work by allowing them the freedom to live or die without govt assistance. The meager wages you speak of, will rise as the labor market shrinks, and the poor will once again have to learn how to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.


14 posted on 03/26/2006 9:20:19 AM PST by jeremiah (How much did we get for that rope?)
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To: John Filson

I vote for worse, build a wall that no politician can tear down, then tear down the socialism that over 300 Million of us draw a check or benefit from. Once the employers are fined or jailed for knowingly hiring illegals, and the "sugar" that Uncle Sam provides is gone, they will self deport. If not, arrest them and fly them over the fence, with catapults if necessary. This is MY country, not theirs. As far as I am concerned, this is an invasion, and should be repelled by any means available.


15 posted on 03/26/2006 9:26:34 AM PST by jeremiah (How much did we get for that rope?)
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To: garylmoore; baa39
"I rarely criticize Pres. Bush. I know this is almost a throw-away line, but it's revealing: what is this man's real understanding of Americans? I can imagine almost anyone making this degrading statement except the leader of our country."

So, do you want to pick cotton for meager wages? Or oranges, apples, etc? Do you want to clean up after someone's else's dirt and crap? I'm sorry but there are a lot of jobs out there that he's right about, if he wasn't, then why is it that illegals & minorities are doing them?

baa39 is right. At a high enough compensation, there are virtually no jobs that a U.S. citizen won't do, but an illegal alien will.

Our unemployment rate hovers around 5%, which is considered full employment, as in a free enterprise economy there will always be some people in transition out of work. Pres. Bush's point is that there are jobs that would go unfilled, or at prohibitive cost, if not for the presence of non-citizens. He is proposing to allow for more non-citizen workers above the number who are admitted for eventual citizenship. This is the carrot that is necessary for an effective control of immigration, which will require the stick of more aggressive enforcement, inside the country as well as at our borders.

The stick won't work without the carrot. The carrot does not harm our country, rather it helps.
16 posted on 03/26/2006 2:22:15 PM PST by kenavi ("Remember, your fathers sacrificed themselves without need of a messianic complex." Ariel Sharon)
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To: kenavi

I would like to know the numbers of citizens that are drawing welfare, Social Security, or going to college for 20 years. There are plenty of people watching the Price is Right, and Springer dailty, to fill jobs vacated by the invaders. Hunger is a strong motivator, and the obesity problem would be cured in 3 months tops.


17 posted on 03/26/2006 6:50:54 PM PST by jeremiah (How much did we get for that rope?)
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To: jeremiah
I would like to know the numbers of citizens that are drawing welfare, Social Security, or going to college for 20 years.

I think I get your point. These people are not looking for work, so they don't get counted as unemployed (even though they're underemployed).

Legal immigrants, especially from poor countries, are potentially a strongly conservative voting bloc. Illegals are not, because they are subject to manipulation by politicians.
18 posted on 03/27/2006 9:49:03 AM PST by kenavi ("Remember, your fathers sacrificed themselves without need of a messianic complex." Ariel Sharon)
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To: kenavi

Immigrants DO think conservatively, but illegal immigrants are by their very nature, looking for ways around the law(just like libs)IMO.


19 posted on 03/27/2006 6:23:57 PM PST by jeremiah (How much did we get for that rope?)
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