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Bush Pushes Congress to OK Immigrants
AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/30/06 | Nedra Pickler - ap

Posted on 03/30/2006 6:00:20 PM PST by NormsRevenge

CANCUN, Mexico - With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.

"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."

The meeting between the Mexican and U.S. leaders came on the first day of a two-day North American summit that also includes Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper, meeting with Bush for the first time since taking office two months ago with the promise of building stronger ties with Washington, said the two countries are moving past their "tension" over Iraq.

Still, he took a combative stance on their long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, saying Canada would "pursue all its legal options" if he and Bush can't work out an agreement.

But it was the immigration debate, which has dominated the U.S. Senate this week, that took center stage in talks conducted in a beachfront resort surrounded by bikini-clad spring breakers. A new immigration law could affect as many as 6 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States — about half of all those who are estimated to have sneaked in from other countries seeking new opportunities they can't find at home.

Bush is pushing for a guest worker program that would let foreigners in low-paying jobs stay temporarily, which Fox says is a good first step toward some form of legal status for all Mexican illegal immigrants.

The issue has united the two leaders, whose friendship dates back to Bush's time as Texas governor but was strained over Fox's objections to the war in Iraq. But immigration has divided Bush's Republican party, with business interests who want cheap labor battling conservatives who want a get-tough policy against illegal immigrants.

Fox suggested the issue is largely out of their hands now.

"The matter is in the Congress of the United States and that is where the decision will be made," Fox said. "It is no longer between President Bush and President Fox."

But both leaders were clearly trying to sway the debate.

"I told the president there is a legislative process that's going forward," Bush said. "And that it may look cumbersome to some, but that's how our democracy works."

Bush added, "I'm optimistic that we can get a bill done."

The summit included plenty of time to be neighborly. The three leaders dressed casually in open-collared shirts and strolled together among the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza before sitting down for more intense one-on-one meetings. Fox planned a lavish dinner for his guests.

After spending the morning sightseeing, Bush had a few hours off before the formal meetings began. He used part of the time to work up a sweat in his hotel's gym.

There was tight security despite the fun-loving atmosphere generated by college students who have flocked to Cancun for spring break. Gunboats patrolled the turquoise waters off Bush's spa resort, and fencing kept out all but hotel guests. "I'd like to make sure you work more than you play," Bush joked to reporters.

The trilateral meeting was expected to be Fox's last, since he is set to leave office this year because of term limits. Bush lauded Fox for stabilizing the Mexican economy and improving the net worth of his people.

"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."

In his meeting with Harper, Bush sought to make the newly elected leader look good at home, making it a point to stress how hard the Canadian leader had pressed him on the softwood lumber issue. Harper "made an emphatic case," Bush said.

"I appreciate his steely resolve to get something done," the president said. "I appreciate your pushing."

But Bush didn't give Harper much of substance, saying only that "my intent is to negotiate in good faith and a timely fashion to resolve this issue."

___

On the Net:

U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; 1986redux; amnesty; bush; bushamnesty; bushrobusteza; congress; guestworkers; hr4437; illegalimmigration; illegals; immigrantlist; immigrants; intifada; jorgewarbusto; mexico; mexifornia; nwo; pushes; redandgreendawn; threeamigos; tresamigos
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To: texastoo

Yes. Definitely.


241 posted on 03/30/2006 7:32:25 PM PST by Jorge
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To: NormsRevenge

If true it would amount to no less than the demolition of the Shining City on a Hill. Amazing any US president would assume he or she has the authority to undo in such a dramatic manner the inheritance handed down by the nation's founders. Amazing and criminal.


242 posted on 03/30/2006 7:32:54 PM PST by skeeter
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To: texastoo; clawrence3; Howlin; onyx
Bush is so arrogant with his facial features that I can't stand to look at him anymore. He absolutely looks like he is mocking the American people when he says, "jobs that Americans won't do".

Get a load of this. Now we've got nancy-asses mocking Bush's looks.

This place is sinking into juvenile, schoolgirl pettiness the likes of which I have NEVER seen.

243 posted on 03/30/2006 7:33:37 PM PST by sinkspur (Things are about to happen that will answer all your questions and solve all your problems.)
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To: skeeter

Was Ronald Reagan (who supported NAFTA) an "elite"?!


244 posted on 03/30/2006 7:34:10 PM PST by clawrence3
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To: NormsRevenge

Quick, seal the border while Bush is on the other side. He probably feels more at home there than here in the USA, at this time, at least!


245 posted on 03/30/2006 7:34:23 PM PST by varon (Allegiance to the constitution, always. Allegiance to a political party, never.)
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To: clawrence3
The illegal aliens who are plaintiffs in these cases challenging the statute may claim the benefit of the Equal Protection Clause

The Equal Protection Clause doesn't grant automatic citizenship. Your DU talking point failed.

And I'm betting that you lack the honesty to admit it.

246 posted on 03/30/2006 7:34:25 PM PST by Mojave
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To: yarddog

Agreed.


247 posted on 03/30/2006 7:35:04 PM PST by beyond the sea (Claire De Lune - ........ 1862)
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To: yarddog
Reasonable in fact is to deport every single one.

Sorry. That is in neither the House nor the Senate bill, so it's not going to happen.

248 posted on 03/30/2006 7:35:31 PM PST by sinkspur (Things are about to happen that will answer all your questions and solve all your problems.)
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Comment #249 Removed by Moderator

To: sinkspur

If you can't stand the heat, go to Mexico. Just try to invade their country illegally and see what happens.


250 posted on 03/30/2006 7:36:31 PM PST by yarddog
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To: Mordacious
having illegal labor and guest workers isn't "capitalism" - its socialism, its socialism for businesses, who get to concentrate wealth for themselves while passing their costs to the general taxpayers, who are essentially subsidizing the low wages they pay.

Worth repeating.

And one more time, when the truth is the truth.

251 posted on 03/30/2006 7:37:05 PM PST by org.whodat (Never let the facts get in the way of a good assumption.)
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To: beyond the sea; jude24

Nationalism is a dangerous thing. It is elevation of "nation" above all else.

We have a constitutional republic. That constitutional system is elevated above all the flag waving, patriotic music, speeches, and pro-America emotionalism that a demagogue preaching nationalism can dish out.

After all, national socialism was extremely nationalistic about pre-war Germany.

I think that's what the president meant, and I agree with him.


252 posted on 03/30/2006 7:37:50 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It. Pray for Our Troops!)
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To: NormsRevenge
It's really getting pretty marginal on whether it was the right decision to reelect him.

Pros
WOT
SCOTUS nominees 2/3

Cons
Economy on the brink of failure (you'll see lemmings)
Refusal to close the border
Patronizing everyone except middle America

253 posted on 03/30/2006 7:38:09 PM PST by Rockitz (Follow the money and you'll find the truth.)
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To: usnavy45
People are emotional because they never thought they would be let down by their president and party they way they have been.

It's been clear for years that Bush would betray the American people on this issue as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

254 posted on 03/30/2006 7:38:16 PM PST by Mojave
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To: Mojave

Too bad you stopped reading before the first sentence even finished. That case certainly notes the 14th Amendment grants AUTOMATIC citizenship. There's plenty more where that came from. BTW: how many times did you vote for Bush? I voted for him TWICE. How exactly does that make me a DUmmy?


255 posted on 03/30/2006 7:38:19 PM PST by clawrence3
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To: sinkspur
Of course it is not going to happen. This country is over-run with scum who put personal profit above the common interest.

Congress is even worse.

256 posted on 03/30/2006 7:38:34 PM PST by yarddog
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To: usnavy45
We (the american public) are being pushed in that direction.

Nah. I suspect you're just itching to close off America to anybody who's a darker shade than you are.

257 posted on 03/30/2006 7:39:02 PM PST by sinkspur (Things are about to happen that will answer all your questions and solve all your problems.)
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To: texastoo; sinkspur; Coop

nancy-ass about sums up the post from texastoo and perhaps it's a good description of the poster as well!


258 posted on 03/30/2006 7:39:04 PM PST by onyx (Elections are in November, 06 ---- 08 can wait!)
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Comment #259 Removed by Moderator

To: clawrence3

So you worship at the feet of the Supreme Court. They have made a travesty of the law. Treat the Constitution like toilet paper.


260 posted on 03/30/2006 7:41:11 PM PST by yarddog
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