McCain calls for guest worker visas

SacBee ^ | May 22, 2008 | Peter Hecht

[radar101]

NION CITY - Republican presidential candidate John McCain joined Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in calling today for comprehensive immigration reform, including guest worker visas to bring employees to California's Silicon Valley and the state's vast agricultural fields.

The two men brought up the issue at McCain's prompting during a global competitiveness roundtable featuring California technology executives and entrepreneurs.

Asked by Silicon Valley panelists on what he would do to grant more visa for skilled technology workers, McCain broadly advocated the comprehensive immigration reform plan he had backed with Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy in Congress.

The same issue brought McCain intense criticism during the Republican presidential primary from conservatives who assailed him as soft on illegal immigration and an advocate of amnesty.

But today McCain, the now presumptive GOP presidential nominee, said an immigration program is needed that protects America's borders and national security. While he called for punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants, he also advocated a humane approach that treats illegal workers as "God's child

[wolfcreek]

Courtesy of Aunt B

http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/DayinLife_050629.pdf (click here to see orignial document)

Some of the DAILY work of USIS according to their own document:

* Conduct 135,000 national security background checks

* process 30,000 applications for immigrant benefits

* Issue 7,000 permanent resident cards (green cards -PER DAY)(This is what McCain wants to increase....5 days per week x 7,000 x 52 weeks= 1,820,000 PER YEAR)

* Welcome 2100 new citizens.

* Welcome 3500 new permanent residents.(more of what McCain would increase....3500x5x52weeks=910,00 PER YEAR)

Does this look like we are not allowing enough “Legal” entries?

[VideoDoctor]

There’s just no way I can vote for this jerk.

Truer words were never spoken.

[TADSLOS]

[Puddleglum]

I am not against LEGAL immigration & it seems that maybe some things should be modified to allow more immigrants in here LEGALLY, after they have gone through the procedures to check out their backgrounds and health.

HOWEVER - I am violently against rewarding people that have come here illegally in any fashion whatsoever!!! Secure the border for sure, but don’t then turn around & let the people that sneaked in against the rules be allowed to stay, work, get a driver’s license, free health care, education, etc. This makes me so mad!

And it has NOTHING to do with being against foreigners or people of color. My brother-in-law came here LEGALLY from another country & finally got his citizenship & I am so proud of him. But it MUST be done within LEGAL parameters.

Well said. I agree. I support legal immigration and even making its machinery more responsive and efficient, especially where it encourages citizenship and not a "here-but-resentful" subculture.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Well said but also turn off the government spigot of free services. If the allure of free services were turned off, we may not even need the fence.

[Ron H.]

I'm back againnnnnnnn......