Immigration Reform on Bush Agenda

Washington Post ^ | December 24, 2003 | Mike Allen

[sarcasm]

< SNIP >

Lobbyists working with the White House said Bush is developing a plan that would allow immigrants to cross the border legally if jobs are waiting for them. The sources said the administration also wants to provide a way for some undocumented workers in the United States to move toward legal status.

Bush will try to make the plan more palatable to conservatives by including stricter entry controls, including increased use of technology at the border and steps toward better enforcement of current visa restrictions and reporting requirements, sources said.

< SNIP >

The White House plan is being designed by Bush's senior adviser, Karl Rove, in consultation with the domestic policy staff. Sources said the White House's biggest concern is that the new mechanism not penalize people who had followed the law and reward those who had not. McCain's plan, which was introduced in the House by Reps. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), tries to mitigate that problem by creating a new type of visa for previously undocumented workers who would be allowed to live in the United States legally for three years. Then the workers could apply for the temporary worker visa, which would be the path to a green card, or legal permanent residency. That would amount to a three-year advantage for those who entered legally.

[Sabertooth]

When you think about the politicians who support amnesty and related policies, which of the following statements do you most agree with:

1. These politicians understand the cultural and economic consequences of amnesty, and they just don't care.

2. These politicians simply do not understand the cultural and economic consequences of amnesty

Some of both, and I'll throw in a universal third option:

3. These politicians do not sufficiently fear the electorate on this issue. They are mules lacking two-by-fours-- even the Republicans, who ought to be elephants.

[BOBTHENAILER]

If he can manage that, he's got my vote.

Didn't you see the press conf right after Ridge's statement on illegals, wherein Bush said explicitly that he was NOT for AMNESTY?

He went on to describe a worker matched with employer program, much like we've discussed in the past.

[Jorge]

He is no different than a bank robber.

So you think the person who breaks into your house and robs you of everything you own... is REALLY no different than the Mexican down the street struggling to make a living as a janitor, simply because he doesn't have her green card?

They are morally the same in your book?

Once again, your attempts to defend your hostility toward illegal immigrants has you inventing some incredible and ridiculous arguments.

[honeygrl]

"Someone who comes into this country, who thinks differently from you, is against the law?"

I guess you think we should let all the terrorists in too then and make them legal? Or do you just want Mexicans to be legal?

And no, it's not against the law for people who think differently from us to come into this country. They just have to go through the proper channel. The ones who don't are criminals from the day they step foot on US soil.

I hate to break it to you, but this isn't about racial differences. This is about criminal invasion and national security. If someone is here from Canada illegally, I want them out just like someone from Mexico or any other country. Go through the proper channel and come here legally, and I'll welcome you right on in. I won't welcome amnesty for those here illegally though. And if Bush does that, I'll vote libertarian.

[Sabertooth]

They will be there, IMHO, this is a non-issue, which will resolve itself favorably, despite the fervor on FR for this issue.

Did you follow the California Recall?

Did you see how fast we got signatures to overturn SB60 the Illegal Alien driver's license bill?

Did you see how fast politicians of both parties scrambled to keep it off the ballot?

Some "non-issue" that was. What President Bush will propose will be worse by several orders of magnitude.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

were the pilgrams immigrants?
was thomas jefferson an immigrant?
was goerge washington an immigrant?

They were settlers and pioneers, here even before there was a US.

There's nothing wrong with immigration just as long as it's kept legal, and those who come illegally aren't rewarded.

[texastoo]

So are you telling us the Maticular counselor ID card will be illegal?

I don't think so. The Patriot act is probably for Americans only. We wouldn't want to hurt V. Fox's feelings now, would we? $12million times $29 per card is $348 million.

[txdoda]

btw, my point was that this country benefits from immigration.>>>>>>>

LOL......tell that to the folks in (generous welfare) CA.......largest illegal population===largest deficit.

This country has benefited from LEGAL immigrants that came here, & assimilated, without a generous WELFARE STATE.

[Steel Wolf]

Not only that, but it is unfair to the rest of the world. America can only take in so many new people at once, and if the bulk of that is Mexicans, than that means we won't be taking in people from India, Brazil or Laos.

I'm sure there are lots of people out there that hope for a better life in America, but are stuck doing the right thing, filling out the right forms, and waiting in line. Are there no people needier than the Mexicans out there? If there are, then why should Mexican immigrants, regardless of status, get preferrential treatment?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

You and Bob Grant in NY. Everything Grant has said for the past 30 years is coming true.

I, on the other hand, have only realized the depth of the mess we are in last year, when I had time off and thought about it.

As far as workers/jobs'companies goes... it is just a LITTLE frustrating that some of us pay taxes fully, hire all legal employees who pay income tax, etc... while watching construction companies, farmers, landscapers, restaurants hire cheap labor, pay no benefits, evade taxes, declare 20% of their true income, and employ people off the books.

We get harassed several times a year by the IRS, spend 10's of 1000's more for accounting and taxes... while rests, builders, landscaping co's et al run wild, break laws, hide income, evade taxes, defraud the govt in every way possible, ETC, ETC ETC

And Bush's summation to this gargantuan injustice is the insulting "workers need jobs and jobs need workers" con game.

No one ever talks about these issues here. People who own and have started cash businesses in the past 5 years are getting cash rich by operating outside of the law. Everyone else in the middle class is doing the right thing, at their economic peril. Plus, they are paying for the benefits to illegal employees of the companies that hire illegals.

Every time I get mail from the IRS, I think "Why are they hassling taxpaying citizens, while giving law breakers and tax cheats a pass?"

[dagnabbit]

Let's not fool ourselves. The final result of the open borders, rolling amnesties, and permanently very high levels of legal immigration favored by Bush and his handlers - will be the abolition of the United States as a sovereign country.

[Jodi]

another "holier-than-thou" conservative. we're the pilgrams criminals the day they stepped foot on america? the indians prolly thought they were illegal. this country is a melting pot and it's time some in the republican party figured this out.

[Steel Wolf]

I don't think so. The Patriot act is probably for Americans only. We wouldn't want to hurt V. Fox's feelings now, would we? $12million times $29 per card is $348 million

How would that work, if no one is allowed to ask if you're a citizen or not? I can't think of the last time I had to show that I was a U.S. citizen to do anything besides get a passport. Even if they do ask, do you really think that non citizens would be exempt from the Patriot Act?

[Sabertooth]

Didn't you see the press conf right after Ridge's statement on illegals, wherein Bush said explicitly that he was NOT for AMNESTY?

I saw it, and you took the bait. That's not actually what the President said.

He said he's not for "blanket Amnesty." "Blanket" is the operative weasel word.

"Undocumented immigrant" and the possibly-soon-to-be-redefined "guest worker" are more weasel phrases. Read the article on which this thread is based:

The sources said the administration also wants to provide a way for some undocumented workers in the United States to move toward legal status.

"Some" is another weasel word. It only means "less than all."

He went on to describe a worker matched with employer program, much like we've discussed in the past.

Read the McCain legislation (S 1461), also mentioned in this article. It's a program by which employers of Illegals may sponsor them for legalization.

President Bush is dissembling, Bob.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"I agree - but, unfortunately, these people have been watching the American charade unfold via Satellite TV. "

I know. It's like every US institution has become corrupted in various ways. Criminally, socially, politically. It is disturbing. Cheating is now the American way.

[sarcasm]

Did he misrepresent his alien status when he got a job? he's a liar. Did he work off the books and not pay taxes? - he's a thief. Did he present fraudulent documents to obtain a job - he's a criminal. He should spend time in prison for those offenses, have his assets seized and then be booted out of the country - never to return.

[honeygrl]

The country benefits from *legal* immigration. Illegal immigration screws us all. (including those immigrants that came here legally)

[Steel Wolf]

we're the pilgrams criminals the day they stepped foot on america? the indians prolly thought they were illegal. this country is a melting pot and it's time some in the republican party figured this out.

We stole this land fair and square, thank you. Seriously, though, how do you equate controlling the borders with denying that this country is a melting pot?

[BOBTHENAILER]

Did you follow the California Recall?

No friggin' doubt, and I saw all the Arnie bashing.

Did you see how fast we got signatures to overturn SB60 the Illegal Alien driver's license bill?

I did, and who, as Governor, legislated that onerous POS away? Was it McClintock?

Did you see how fast politicians of both parties scrambled to keep it off the ballot?

But RHINO ARNIE didn't did he?

Some "non-issue" that was. What President Bush will propose will be worse by several orders of magnitude.

You will live to regret those words IMHO.

[txdoda]

i want our president to be a leader for all the people, >>>>>>>>

What are your thoughts about a president that only enforces the US laws that he WANTS to ??.

How about our president apparently ready to change US laws to *suit* ANOTHER head of state ??

Vincente Fox said "he wanted his mexicans legalized in the USA". While 70/80% Americans want illegals deported.

Who should your president listen too ??