Posted on 04/12/2007 11:26:27 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Standing along the border between the United States and Mexico, President Bush on Monday renewed his call for more secure borders and a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. The time to act is now.
A small window of opportunity has opened in Washington, where a bipartisan compromise can be hammered out on this red-hot issue. But it's a brief moment. Political posturing and jockeying for the 2008 elections will begin in earnest this fall, and that can quell bipartisan efforts faster than you can say, "Tom Tancredo."
Congress and the president need to invest the energy and the political will now to help enact sensible, comprehensive immigration reform. If they wait too long, chances for a solution may get pushed to 2009, with a new president and a new Congress.
"It's a matter of national interest, and it's a matter of deep conviction for me," Bush said Monday. His plan, bits of which were leaked to the media over the weekend, is built on five planks: beefed-up border security; a temporary worker program; sanctions against employers who knowingly hire illegals; a "practical solution" on what to do with the 11 million already here illegally, short of granting amnesty; and assimilation of immigrants, including requirements that they learn English and American history.
By making the tough-on-security pitch Monday, Bush was trying to appeal to some Republicans and others who he needs to join the coalition of Democrats who backed comprehensive reform last year.
While we were pleased to see him beating the drum, the initial plan is far from perfect, and Congress can use it as a starting point.
One provision that has raised concerns from Democrats would prevent guest workers from bringing their families to the U.S. and require them to renew work permits at a cost of $3,500 every three years. One of the reasons a guest-worker program is needed is to unite families and reduce the number of dangerous border crossings.
To get a green card under the Bush proposal, immigrants would need to return to their countries and pay a $10,000 application fee. The staggeringly high amount is so unrealistic, given the kinds of jobs that many illegal immigrants do, that it likely would only serve to discourage people from complying with such a law.
A number of measures over the past few years have made it more difficult for immigrants to illegally cross into the U.S. from Mexico. It's an important first step toward getting a handle on immigration.
However, it's been a year since the massive rallies in cities across the country, including a half-million strong protest in downtown Los Angeles and student walkouts at schools in Pomona, Montclair, Chino, Ontario, Norco, Fontana and Rialto Denver, and America is still without a more humane and responsible system.
The president and Congress shouldn't waste this "off year" opportunity.
I'm sure by "humane and responsible" the author is referring to the thousands of Americans killed or maimed by drunk illegals and how we can prevent such tragedies in the future. /sarc
Bush should also do and then lets discuss the issues.
Why doesn’t it surprise me that this is being written anonymously?
Actually, this is somewhat better than I had expected out of Bush. I’m not a fan of being able to buy citizenship, but compared to where he was going....
And is $10,000 is such a staggering amount, really? These coyotoes are apparently bringing $2k per pop, and if you get busted, you’re out of your money.
The president and Congress shouldn’t waste this “off year” opportunity.
Once the flow of illegals IS STOPPED, then and only then, can a working plan to make this situation right be put in place, since these illegals cannot be allowed to GO AROUND any plan that is put in place...and they will. They have no reservation about breaking any and all of our laws.
All the hot air from Washington is MEANINGLESS BS. Only actions count now, and actions that effect the problem. No more pandering, no more supporting criminals, no more!!
As someone pointed out earlier in a post about an illegal alien woman who was sending $200 a month home to Mexico..
She could save the money and have the $10,000 within 5 years....
So much for $10,000 being beyond the grasp of an illegal alien “dreaming” of becaming “legal”
The Bush plan as it is is a giveaway, and yet in this editorial and with the Dems they are already complaining that it is “too harsh” and costs too much!
We have reached the Orwellian Age. This constant use of “comprehensive reform” instead of amnesty is wearing thin, yet Bush, the MSM, and the open borders crowd still don’t have the guts to say the obvious - it’s amnesty and open borders, but we just can’t use those words or the sheeple will catch on.
Lost in this latest fraud is that the two of Bush’s five point plan are meaningless: (beefed-up border security; sanctions against employers who knowingly hire illegals;).
Why? Because the other three provisions will open the borders and make all the invaders legal, so there won’t be any need to enforce the border and there will only be legals to hire. We could do the same with banks by opening the vaults to anyone and making walking out with the money legal - Viola! No more bank robberies!
I don’t see anything wrong about delaying this till next year and making it part of the Presidential debate. Let the people decide on our immigration policy at the ballot box, rather than a secretive group of elitists and robber barons like the politicians, CEOs, unions, the Wall Street Journal and Chamber of Commerce who want to codify it in law without any vote by the sheeple.
“Roosevelt signed an executive order stopping all immigration for 5 years “to give America a chance to catch its breath.”
Bush should also do and then lets discuss the issues.”
Oh Dear God, Please !
There is one issue that is bigger than any other and it aint immigration. That is a divider not a uniter.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Yeah, I guess having the most generous immgration policy in the world is not humane or responsible.
Regards.
Yep.
We also need to stop all the handouts.
I think we'll have to await the installation of a new president for anything positive to happen. I've lost confidence in Bush.
Bush’s plan is not ‘reform’. How does it change ANYTHING?
If Border’s aren’t enforced now, they won’t be under the plan.
If Illegal immigrants are not deported now, they won’t be under the plan.
If Employer’s of illegals are not punished now, they won’t be under the plan.
And what of those illegal’s who DON’T comply with Bush’s Plan? Surely they ALL can’t be rounded up and deported !! /sarc. Isn’t that what he’s always telling us?
Illegal immigrants will still enter illegally and will be hired by employers looking for cheap labor, while the Federal Government will continue to look the other way.
Smoke and mirrors IMO. CIR is nothing but a plan to secure OPEN BORDERS.
LMAO! Like the illegals are such law-abiding folks right now. Like they give a crap about our laws.
From the moment they cross the border their lives are those of lies and lawlessness. Those are the "family values" they bring.
Seal the borders. Deport the illegals. Hammer the employers.
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