Bush Signs Border Security Law (no amnesty!)

yahoo.com ^ | AP

[rintense]

(AP)

"We must know what our visitors are doing, and when they leave," he said before signing the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act in a Rose Garden ceremony.

The bill provides for 200 new investigators and 200 inspectors for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It requires foreign visitors to carry passports and visas that are tamper-resistant, and also gives border patrol agents a pay increase.

Under the legislation, the INS is required to establish a foreign-student tracking system that records where they've been accepted into school, when their student visas were issued and when they enrolled.

That provision addresses the avenue used by several Sept. 11 hijackers, who entered the United States on student visas.

The bill would also require that passports issued after 2003 be tamper-resistant and that visitors carry documents that can be read by machine and identify the bearer with biometrics, such as face recognition or retinal scanning technology.

Bush said he was sorry Congress didn't include in the bill a measure that would have extended a deadline for giving hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants the chance to apply for residency without leaving the United States.

[ohioWfan]

Well I can't believe no one has mentioned this! The President actually signed a bill that did not include extending amnesty

Well now, rintense, if it doesn't suit the bashers' purposes, it won't be mentioned......unless of course it is twisted into something negative. No matter what this man says or does, these people will not be satisfied.

I'm glad that he signed it without the amnesty. This is a good thing.

[itsahoot]

The bill provides for 200 new investigators and 200 inspectors

Now those 11,000,000 illegals will really be scared.

[deport]

NO EXTENDED PERIOD FOR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION. PERIOD.

Now just hang in there.... it'll be there for him to sign in one of the upcoming pieces of legislation at some point. Things take time in this give and take world of politics.....

[skeeter]

Looks like the Democrats realize Bush has painted himself into a corner on 245i. If he signs it his base will stay home in '04 & the 'rats will still out-pander him for the hispanic vote.

If I were he I'd be on the phone 24/7 begging GOP senators to save me from myself & kill the damn bill.

[nopardons]

Not bloody likely ! We'll get more threads about how the president is just horrible, because he didn't do this 10 seconds after the planes went into the WTC and the Pentagon, and 1000's of posts bashig President Bush ; as usual. sigh

[miamimark]

also gives border patrol agents a pay increase.

Anyone here know how much?

[galt-jw]

big deal...there are tons of illegals here already, more everyday....guess when something else goes up, it'll be a shock.

[bocephus]

245i is not dead. I just saw the committee debating it on C-Span 20 minutes ago.

[terilyn]

Well, considering that all the conservative measures that have been inacted since Bush became President, Kyoto, ICC, no money for abortions for foreign countries, declaring an unborn fetus a person, standing up for the 2nd amendment came straight from Bush...and all the liberal/socialist stuff that's passed came from Congress with Bush signing it...I'd say it's not too hard to guess where his true agenda lies.

I'm glad this "amnesty" bill didn't pass, believe me. I'm just not willing to believe yet that the stupid stuff like CFR, the farm bill, etc. would have passed if we didn't have the illigitimate Dashole running the Senate, (thanks for nothing Jeffords).

[rintense]

You are missing the point. My point is, if Bush were a eager to allow illegals amnesty as many say he is, he could have vetoed this bill and insisted on the inclusion of extended amnesty. He did not. And THAT is what the news is.

Bush had been heavily maligned for wanting this amnesty, and yet, given the power to actually veto it, he chose not to.

[rintense]

Again, if Bush were truly upset that the amnesty were not included, he would have vetoed the bill.

[rintense]

Without severe modification, that bill won't hunt, no matter how it's packaged.

[rintense]

You make a great point once again, terilyn. It all comes down to the Senate. I, too, am glad it was not included. And for all the debating and posturing that will happen with the amnesty extension, it won't return back to the Senate in it's current form. If it does return for a vote, it will be interesting to see how it is changed.

[FITZ]

I'm glad Bush signed it. It's very important that all visitors and guests of the US are screened and the border be made more secure. The people who come illegally aren't that concerned with their status in the first place or they would have applied to immigrate legally since that is one choice.

There can be other arrangements made for the true temporary guest workers who wish to come to the US for a limited time and return to Mexico ---especially those agricultural workers.

[RickyJ]

With your reasoning ability I would advise against making any investments in the stock market. Stay safe.

[rintense]

Oh come on! I'd expect something a little more subtle than that from you.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

BUMP,PING AND EMAILED THANX

[dalebert]

Well, I am sure Bush really meant he was sorry about amnesty. Smirk