George W. Bush on Immigration (A Man that Delivers on what he Says)

George W. Bush on Immigration President of the United States, Former Republican Governor (TX)

Our economy could not function without the immigrants We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy, even though this economy could not function without them. All these are forms of economic retreat, and they lead in the same direction, toward a stagnant and second-rate economy. Source: 2006 State of the Union Address Jan 31, 2006

Support a humane guest-worker program that rejects amnesty Keeping America competitive requires an immigration system that upholds our laws, reflects our values and serves the interests of our economy. Our nation needs orderly and secure borders. To meet this goal, we must have stronger immigration enforcement and border protection. And we must have a rational, humane guest-worker program that rejects amnesty, allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally and reduces smuggling and crime at the border. Source: 2006 State of the Union Address Jan 31, 2006

It's time to permit temporary guest workers America's immigration system is outdated, unsuited to the needs of our economy and to the values of our country. We should not be content with laws that punish hardworking people and deny businesses willing workers and invite chaos at our border. It is time for an immigration policy that permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our country, and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists. Source: 2005 State of the Union Speech Feb 2, 2005

Temporary workers ok, but no amnesty Q: What should we do about the 8,000 people cross our borders illegally every day? BUSH: We're increasing the border security of the US. There ought to be a temporary worker card that allows a willing worker and a willing employer, so long as there's not an American willing to do that job, to join up. I don't believe we ought to have amnesty. I don't think we ought to reward illegal behavior. There are plenty of people standing in line to become a citizen. If they want to become a citizen, they can stand in line, too. And here is where my opponent and I differ. In September 2003, he supported amnesty for illegal aliens.

KERRY: We need a guest-worker program. We need is to crack down on illegal hiring. And thirdly, we need an earned-legalization program for people who have been here for a long time, stayed out of trouble, got a job, paid their taxes, and their kids are American. We got to start moving them toward full citizenship, out of the shadows.

A time-limited worker card for the illegal immigrants Q: At least 8,000 people cross our borders illegally every day. How do you see it? And what do we need to do about it? A: We're increasing the border security of the US. We've got 1,000 more Border Patrol agents on the southern border. We're using new equipment. We're using unmanned vehicles to spot people coming across. We'll continue to do so over the next four years. They're coming here to work. In order to take pressure off the borders, in order to make the borders more secure, there ought to be a temporary worker card that allows a willing worker and a willing employer to mate up, so long as there's not an American willing to do that job, to join up in order to be able to fulfill the employers' needs. It makes sure that the people coming across the border are humanely treated, that they're not kept in the shadows of our society, that they're able to go back and forth to see their families. The card it'll have a period of time attached to it. It also means it takes pressure off the border.

Don't believe we ought to have amnesty BUSH: I don't believe we ought to have amnesty. I don't think we ought to reward illegal behavior. There are plenty of people standing in line to become a citizen. And we ought not to crowd these people ahead of them in line. If they want to become a citizen, they can stand in line, too. Kerry supported amnesty for illegal aliens. KERRY: The borders are more leaking today than they were before 9/11. We haven't done what we need to do to toughen up our borders, and I will. We need a guest-worker program, but if it's all we have, it's not going to solve the problem. We need to crack down on illegal hiring. It's against the law in the US to hire people illegally, and we ought to be enforcing that law properly. We need an earned-legalization program for people who have been here for a long time, stayed out of trouble, got a job, paid their taxes, and their kids are American. We got to start moving them toward full citizenship, out of the shadows.

Support temporary worker program but oppose amnesty I ask Congress to reform our immigration laws so they reflect our values and benefit our economy. I propose a new temporary-worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing employers when no Americans can be found to fill the job. This reform will be good for our economy, because employers will find needed workers in an honest and orderly system. A temporary-worker program will help protect our homeland, allowing border patrol and law enforcement to focus on true threats to our national security. I oppose amnesty, because it would encourage further illegal immigration and unfairly reward those who break our laws. My temporary-worker program will preserve the citizenship path for those who respect the law, while bringing millions of hardworking men and women out from the shadows of American life.

Source: 2004 State of the Union address to joint session of Congress Jan 20, 2004

New temporary worker program includes illegal aliens President Bush, saying the nation has failed millions of illegal immigrants who live in fear of deportation, yesterday proposed an ambitious plan that would allow undocumented workers to legally hold jobs in the US for the first time. The program that would bestow temporary legal status for at least 6 years on 8 million undocumented immigrants, as long as they keep their jobs. But it would not automatically put them on a path to obtaining citizenship or even permanent resident status. "We must make our immigration laws more rational, and more humane," Bush told 200 Latino supporters attending his first White House announcement of the election year. "I believe we can do so without jeopardizing the livelihoods of American citizens." What Bush calls his "temporary worker" program was eagerly embraced by business groups but condemned as stingy and impractical by advocates for immigrants. Many said it has little chance of passing Congress in the form Bush described.

Mexico: immigration reform in exchange for oil development Bush envisioned a Mexican border open to labor, to trade, and open to investment-especially investment in energy. Mexico had banned foreign investment in its energy industry in 1938, and ever since, Mexican oil production has been controlled by the creaky, corrupt, and polluting state monopoly, Pemex. If Mexico opened itself to the exploration and development of its oil resources by American entrepreneurs & technology, Mexican oil might possibly displace Arab oil from the US market altogether. For this energy "quid," Mexico would of course demand some equally valuable "quo"-and in Bush's mind that "quo" was immigration reform. Bush believed that immigration was valuable to the US and praised it again and again in public speeches and his private conversations.

So the Bush administration designed a system for regularizing the Mexican-US labor relationship-not an amnesty like that of 1986, but a grander system for enabling Mexicans to work in the US temporarily and then to go home again.

Respect other languages, but teach all children English Q: Should English be made the country’s official language? A: The ability to speak English is the key to success in America. I support a concept I call English-plus, insisting on English proficiency but recognizing the invaluable richness that other languages and cultures brings to our nation of immigrants. In Texas, the Spanish language enhances and helps define our state’s history. My fundamental priority is results. Whether a school uses an immersion program or a bilingual program, whichever effectively teaches children to read and comprehend English as quickly as possible, I will support. The standard is English literacy and the goal is equal opportunity - all in an atmosphere where every heritage is respected and celebrated.

$500M to cut INS application time to 6 months Expanding on a proposal to improve the INS, Bush pledged $500 million in new spending yesterday to cut the time needed to process an immigration application to an average of six months. Bush said the process now takes three to five years. Late last year, the INS announced that average times had been reduced from two years to 12 months, and were headed lower. ’’We will bring to the INS a new standard of service and a culture of respect,’’ Bush said. The new spending, to be doled out over five years, is the latest part of an INS overhaul plan that Bush’s campaign believes will resonate with Latino voters. ‘’We’ve got an INS that is too bureaucratic, too stuck in the past,’’ he said.

Last week, Bush announced that he wants to split the INS into two agencies: one for legitimate immigrants and one for border enforcement. He also proposed allowing relatives of permanent residents to visit the US while their own immigration papers are being processed.

Welcome Latinos; immigration is not a problem to be solved Latinos come to the US to seek the same dreams that have inspired millions of others: they want a better life for their children. Family values do not stop at the Rio Grande. Latinos enrich our country with faith in God, a strong ethic of work, community & responsibility. We can all learn from the strength, solidarity, & values of Latinos. Immigration is not a problem to be solved, it is the sign of a successful nation. New Americans are to be welcomed as neighbors and not to be feared as strangers. Source: Speech in Washington, D.C. Jun 26, 2000

Make INS more “immigrant friendly” Bush [would] divide the INS into two agencies: one to deal with the enforcement components of border protection and interior enforcement, and another to deal with the service components of naturalization. Bush will change the INS policy so that spouses & minor children of permanent residents can apply for visitor visas while their immigration applications are pending. He will reverse the presumption that such family members will violate their terms of admission, and will encourage family reunification. Source: Speech in Washington, D.C. Jun 26, 2000

High tech: More H-1B worker visas; less export controls Supports meaningful, broad-based tort reform to protect our most innovative companies from frivolous and junk lawsuits Supports lifting the current limit on H-1B visas; believes long term solution to the shortage of high tech workers is education Called for reforming the high tech export control system by allowing American companies to sell products in the international marketplace when these products are readily available in foreign or mass markets Source: GeorgeWBush.com: ‘Issues: Policy Points Overview’ Apr 2, 2000

Farm policy: Open markets abroad; more H-2A worker visas Calls upon European Union to abide by the rules of the World Trade Organization and allow importation of genetically modified farm products Would work aggressively to open markets for U.S. products and producers Supports reviewing and expanding the H-2A temporary agriculture workers program so that willing workers can provide much needed help to America’s farmers Source: GeorgeWBush.com: ‘Issues: Policy Points Overview’ Apr 2, 2000

Latinos enrich us; family values go past Rio Grande Latinos have come to the US to seek the same dreams that have inspired millions of others: they want a better life for their children. Family values do not stop at the Rio Grande River. Latinos enrich our country with faith in God, a strong ethic of work and community and responsibility. Immigration is not a problem to be solved; it is the sign of a successful nation. New Americans are not to be feared as strangers; they are to be welcomed as neighbors. Source: Reforming the INS, in “Renewing America’s Purpose” Feb 9, 2000

More border guards to compassionately turn away Mexicans We must do a better job of stopping those who seek to come into our country illegally. I support strict border enforcement programs such as Operation Hold the Line, which concentrate border patrol officers and resources at known border-crossing points. I believe it is far more compassionate to turn away people at the border than to attempt to find and arrest them once they are living in our country illegally. Source: “A Charge to Keep”, p.237. Dec 9, 1999

Guest workers, maybe; citizenship waiting period, yes Bush pledged to revisit guest worker programs and other ways for immigrants to come into the country, but said he would insist on immigration controls and a waiting period before citizenship. Source: Mike Glover, Associated Press Aug 6, 1999

I am sick of hearing that the only law these people have broken is to come here "illegally". How blind can you be? You neglect to add that because they came here "Illegally", they have false documentations and SS numbers, and on and on... Read about how are OWN laws are broken and NOT enforced to accommodate the Illegals who have no respect for our laws..

GOVERNOR COULD ENFORCE LAWS: SHOW HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING ILLEGAL ALIENS Posted May 9 2006

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Last week Governor Schwarzenegger complained that the Federal government was not doing its job in keeping our border secure. He noted how porous the borders are, drug dealers, terrorists and illegal aliens get into our nation with only minor difficulties. Arnold is right, the purpose of the Federal government is to protect the borders, not create amnesty programs when you fail to do the job.

But, local, county and state government agencies can also take a hand in this issue. Just as an open border is a magnet to those wanting to leave their home country, but not follow the laws of the United States, the policies of local, county and state government act as magnets due to the benefits and lax enforcement of law already on the books.

Therefore, since Governor Schwarzenegger is concerned about the Federal government not enforcing federal laws, how about the Guv appoint a Cabinet officer or other state government official to make sure state laws are enforced? Let me list just some of the laws that could be enforced. If they were enforced, the Federal government would not have to deport anyone--the illegal aliens would leave of their own accord.

LAWS THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD ENFORCE, TO SHOW HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT CONTROLLING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN CALIFORNIA

1. ENFORCE THE TAX LAWS.....Most employers of illegal aliens do not pay income tax. Have the Franchise Tax Board audit firms, like construction and landscaping firms, are using illegal aliens and not paying state income tax. Bring criminal action against the finance people, human resources and top management for not paying income taxes for illegal alien employees.

2. ENFORCE THE WORKERS COMPENSATION LAWS......like taxes, most employers of illegal aliens do not pay into a workers comp fund. This is illegal in California. Have the appropriate state agency audit firms, such as major hotels and large restaurants. Bring criminal action against the mangers of each facility, the finance people and benefits department for failure to pay. Publish the names of each arrested and how much other workers are paying to cover the costs not paid by these firms.

3. ENFORCE THE WORKER SAFETY RULES....the recent raid on IFCO, the pallet maker in Riverside, showed that the working conditions were massively unsafe. Cal-OSHA should be investigating the safety of the workers. I would expect that unions would also be promoting safety in the workplace. I would expect that Hispanic organizations would not want the illegal aliens to work in severely unsafe conditions. I am positive the Governor does not want any human beings working in unsafe conditions. So, the Guv should be using state agencies to investigate unsafe work places.

4. ENFORCE THE LAWS AGAINST DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.....Recently Senator Cedillo tried to change this law, so that police could not impound cars driven by folks without a license. That got stopped. His reason was that police were impounding cars belonging to illegal aliens, and they were losing cars, a major asset. Instead, the Highway Patrol could put up roadblocks checking for two items--drivers licenses and insurance coverage. Under California law, you must have both. Impound the cars. No cars can leave the impound until proof of insurance and a valid drivers license is produced. Illegal aliens will not be able to do either in California.

5. CROSS CHECK THE STATE TAX PAYERS WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION...Social Security has a database, per the stories about IFCO, of employees with phony social security numbers. This will give agencies businesses to check to enforce number 1 and 2.

6. ENFORCE THE RULES IN THE STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GRANTS..rules of the state say that acceptance of the money means the accepting agency will not violate the laws. Laws are very clear that affordable housing funds go to citizens and those eligible to be residents of the United States. The City of Los Angeles specifically disallows asking if the receivers of affordable housing are eligible due to citizenship. Many of the recipients in LA are illegal aliens.

7. ENFORCE STATE BUILDING AND SAFETY RULES... by not allowing housing funds to cities or counties that do not enforce local rules on the number of unrelated resident in a single housing unit. This will stop the over crowding and force cities to get involved as well--they want the money, now let them enforce the rules and laws.

8. ENFORCE THE STATE BANKING LAWS...Wells Fargo and several other banks are pursuing illegal aliens as customers for loans. The more loans illegal aliens take on homes or cars, the less money available for honest citizens--which means the interest rates goes up for the good folks. State and Federal law says you can not harbor or assist those violating the law. Banking codes say you can not give loans to those using the funds to violate the law. Enforce these laws. Quickly the housing market by illegal aliens would dry up. And, the cost of housing will drop by a small amount, with less people chasing the homes.

I know the Governor is sincere when he says he wants to uphold the law and he takes his oath of office seriously. The Governor has said on several occasions over the past few weeks that the illegal alien program is in need of attention. We all know that the minimum cost of illegal aliens to Californians is $9 billion--which is approximately the structural deficit of the state. He does not have to ask the legislature for one new law in order to enforce the current laws. By doing so, it will send a message to corporate California that the hiring of illegal aliens is a serious offense, that criminal action will be taken against executives that use this hiring to exploit people. A few newspaper stories about the pillars of our community arrested for exploiting illegal aliens, and maybe it will stop.

For months I have suggested governor Schwarzenegger needs a Republican agenda to get GOP'ers to vote for him. The above agenda would go a long way to getting the vote, solving our fiscal crisis and show young people that it is not OK to break the law.

IF YOU KNOW OF OTHER STATE LAWS, NOT FEDERAL, THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT ENFORCING, BUT SHOULD, PLEASE WRITE IT DIRECTLY ON THE BLOG. ALSO, PLEASE SEND THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS AROUND THE STATE AND NATION. LET'S START A MOVEMENT TO HAVE LOCAL OFFICIALS ENFORCE THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS. NO LONGER CAN THEY SAY THIS IS A FEDERAL PROBLEM, NOT THEIR'S.

In a few days I will write another story, this time on how local governments could enforce their laws to cause illegal aliens to leave the area on their own.

www.capoliticalnews.com

Anyone who engages in hyperbole in order to intentional confuse or mislead others on his true position so they will support him with their money and their vote is not an honest person.

You may say all politicians do that and you could well be right but it does not change the fact that they are dishonest.

I voted for him both times even though I knew he did not keep his word in his first campaign to move our embassy to Jerusalem.

An honest man would not say he is in an all out war on terror,send troops to fight and die in it and then send aid money of any kind to support a government that is using terrorists to kill innocent civilians less than a thousand miles from where our soldiers are engage in combat against it.

In the posts above he said he would not support amnesty or reward illegal lawbreakers. This proposal will do both.

He does not get to define the word amnesty.

He also took an oath to support and enforce the laws of our country not to ignore them till he could get them changed to suit his and his friends agenda.

Where it does not violate our Constitution he should be trying to do the will of the majority of the people not ignoring them to do his own.

I am not saying all of the above makes him worse or even as bad as what Kerry or any other politician might would have done, just that these are not the things that an honest person would say or do.

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