Op-Ed: Questions About the Guest Worker Program

President Bush has proposed, and the Senate is currently considering, a guest worker program. While the issue has sparked a rancorous debate, there has been little discourse about the many ramifications of such a program. Here are some questions for which many Americans would like to hear some answers:

1. Will spouses and children be able to accompany the guest worker? Just minor children or adult ones as well?

2. Will any or all of the above be able to demand government services in the language of their choice, per President Clinton's Executive Order 13166? Will the workers be required to have at least a minimal working knowledge of English?

3. Will the children be eligible to attend school, and if so, at whose expense? In what language(s) will they be educated?

4. How will health care services - including birth control - be provided? Who will pay for these services?

5. Will any children born in the United States, automatically become U.S. citizens?

6. Will the workers be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit? Will children remaining in the home country count as deductions when calculating the EITC benefit? How will the number of dependents claimed be verified?

7. Will IRS and Social Security charges be deducted from their wages? Will they be eligible for Social Security benefits, either here, or later in their home country? Will they be required to work the 40 quarters required of U.S. citizens before attaining eligibility?

8. Will workers be covered by Worker's Compensation laws? Will they be covered by unemployment insurance?

9. If the job for which the worker came to the United States disappears, will workers be required to take a different job, or be returned home? If relocation is required, who will pay the expense? Will they receive unemployment compensation after they have returned?

10. Will child labor laws apply, especially in agricultural fields? Will they be enforced?

11. Will workers be permitted to marry during their stay here? Will those who marry a U.S. citizen, or have a child while here, be able to stay beyond the six-year period? Would a man who fathers an out-of-wedlock child qualify for citizenship on petition by the child when it reaches legal majority?

12. Will the workers be able to purchase a car, and obtain a local driver's license? If so, will they be required to purchase automobile insurance, and will this be available to them at a cost they can likely afford?

13. Will children be eligible to attend college? If so, will these foreign citizens be eligible for the in-state tuition rate that is not available to U.S. citizens from other states?

14. Will minimum wage laws apply? Will the Davis-Bacon Act that requires the payment of prevailing wages on public works projects cover these workers?

15. Will there be requirements for immunizations and periodic health examinations? Who will pay for these services?

16. If conditions have not improved in the home country after six years, what are the chances that the guest workers will go home? (Did the guest workers imported into Europe after World War II go home when they were no longer needed, or did they stay and send for their families to join them?)

17. What requirements are there that jobs first be offered and advertised to U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens? How will this be monitored?

18. If the foreign worker program leads to lower wages for less-skilled American workers, will they be entitled to compensation?

20. Will workers be covered by any contract? If so, in which courts is this contact enforceable? Will legal aid be provided? At whose expense?

23. Will the workers be free to unionize and demand improved wages and conditions?

25. How does this program differ from the classical definition of Indentured Servitude?

26. Will employers be required to post a bond to cover expenses associated with any of the costs mentioned above?

Finally, given these difficulties, won't most employers of illegal aliens still prefer to hire people who came here illegally?

Diana Hull, Ph.D. is President of Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) an organization that supports policies to encourage replacement-level fertility and replacement-level immigration in order to protect precious natural resources. Web: http://www.capsweb.org

This lady raises some really important questions that are not answered by our unesteemed senate. Unless the House holds the line and refuses to cave, we're sunk. It's obvious they've caved to the pressure of The Nat'l Chamber of Commerce, the Wall Street Journal, and last but not least, the Illegals themselves. It's amazing that roving hordes of Illegals, descecrating our flag woould have more influence with our Senate than their constituents and taxpayers. Let's pray every last one of them get defeated at their next election.

13. Will children be eligible to attend college? If so, will these foreign citizens be eligible for the in-state tuition rate that is not available to U.S. citizens from other states?

Illegals are now not eligible for all Federal and most state financial aid for college. Will they be eligible now taking an education away from many American kids from poor families?

Will illegals here over 5 years be immediately given a green card with all the attendant benefits or will there be another card for the first 6 years?

25. How does this program differ from the classical definition of Indentured Servitude?

If the program answers all the fears of Americans then Indentured Servitude is a pretty good definition.

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