Help Wanted: Administration Proposes Needed Changes in the H-2A Visa Program

The Heritage Foundation ^ | February 13, 2008 | Diem Nguyen

[ARE SOLE]

There are some good ideas listed here. Coupled with a zero tolerence of illegals I think it has a lot of merit.

Regards

[raybbr]

The only way I will ever support a guest worker program is if there is no provision to bring family members here and any children born to an alien is NOT given U.S. citizenship.

[Shermy]

“Adjust the methodology of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). The changes would allow wages to better represent the market, locality, occupation, and the skill level of the H-2A worker.”

Translation: lower wages against market forces with some vague biz-school talk that makes more govt. intrusions sound “fair.”

Food is getting to our table. These is all about juicing short-term profits higher.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

This is also reasonable.

[Iron Munro]

1 - Build the fence.
2 - Stop the geyser of illegals pouring in.
3 - Then we can deal with the ones already here.

This seems like more of the President's lame duck maneuvering to implement by royal fiat what he and his congressional cohorts couldn’t get through the legitimate legislative process. There is definately a smell in the air.
.

[ARE SOLE]

Then we can deal with the ones already here.

This part always makes me laugh.

[okvalvaag]

... and any children born to an alien is NOT given U.S. citizenship

That would require a repeal of the 14th amendment which specifically prohibit congress and states from limiting citizenship rights of persons born on US soil

[grey_whiskers]

Like *PING*, dudes.

Too bad Willie Green didn't make it long enough on FR to see this day...

Cheers!

[3AngelaD]

This does not, however address the issue of ag wages honestly. Increasing the labor supply in such a way will exert further downward pressure on wages, which they intend to address by “adjusting” the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, Ha! {and continue to discourage mechanization}. At the same time, does anyone think that taxpayers in general will not be subsidizing these workers in one or more ways? Imagine a bill to allow an additional 800,000 lawyers to enter the country and compete for the ambulance-chasing business, and then the government determining, by law, that they all have to charge more than what lawyers are charging now.

[grey_whiskers]

Like, *PING*, folks.

[org.whodat]

The only way I will ever support a guest worker program is if there is no provision to bring family members here and any children born to an alien is NOT given U.S. citizenship.

True, the current one is not working as promised and it is full of fraud. Whole program needs to be cut back. It has just been turned into another immigration get here fast program.

[org.whodat]

That would require a repeal of the 14th amendment which specifically prohibit congress and states from limiting citizenship rights of persons born on US soil

Wrong, there has been two rullings on this, the courts ruled differently in each case.http://www.heritage.org/research/legalissues/lm18.cfm

[TomasUSMC]

Stop the stinking visas. We have 300 hundred million people in this country, they will work if you pay them a decent wage.

[steve8714]

Government licensed “braceros” criminally liable for security and paperwork would be a better solution.

[kabar]

Guest workers don’t go home. Ask the Germans.

[neverdem]

BTTT!

[grey_whiskers]

How in &#^@!! does
* Allow employers to apply for petitions for unnamed workers. This change, which has already been implemented by the DHS, is meant to make the process more flexible for agricultural employers.
work with
* Establish a pilot land-border exit program for guest workers. The system would ensure that H-2A workers are not overstaying their visas. It would also record either biographic or biometric information. ?
or with this?
* Require bonds to ensure timely exit. The DHS should rapidly implement the voluntary exit systems at the land borders. Once the system is in place, employers should be required to put up a bond to ensure that H-2A workers exit the country before their visas expire.

All you have to do is have the people show up at the scanner, give their fingerprint, and sneak *back* across a day or two later.

When caught, claim system error, or red tape.

Cheers!

[Delacon]

Guys, no system will be perfect. We are talking about the US government here. But I have done enough research to know that the reality is that being an illegal in this country is so horrible(someone once said that the worst thing about living outside the law is that you are no longer protected by it) that most would accept an alternative if it was reasonably accessible.

[kabar]

But I have done enough research to know that the reality is that being an illegal in this country is so horrible(someone once said that the worst thing about living outside the law is that you are no longer protected by it) that most would accept an alternative if it was reasonably accessible.

BS. If it is so "horrible," we wouldn't have 20 million of them living here and millions more trying to get in every year. The Border Patrol apprehends and sends back approximately 1 million a year. Another 500,000 to 1 million make it in annually.