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.

[txdoda]

Does it really? Why then do 7 million remain illegal?>>>>>

Who knows ??? Waiting for the next 'blanket amnesty' (with NO back-round checks). They make more money when it TAX FREE ??

And how would you know how fast "talk of amnesty" moves in the immigrant community? Are you part of it? Or do you have that many friends who are here illegal that you are able to keep up on all these things?>>>>>>

Here, the last *new deadline* was in all the papers & on both english & spanish TV. Plus I know some BP agents, they say the number of crossers double anytime there's talk of amnesty.

Of course neither of these would explain your hostility toward illegal immigrants.>>>>>>>>

My *hostility* is to-wards LAWBREAKERS......if we were talking about another amnesty for bank robbers, I'd still be against it.


None EVER indicated to me that they were aware of these amnesty programs.>>>>>>>> If ALL I wanted to be was a LEGAL AMERICAN, I would sure keep up with 'legal immigration' issues.

[Jorge]

"Of course neither of these would explain your hostility toward illegal immigrants..."

Jorge, when there is 'hostility', the illegals will know it.

Will they really? Spare us your hollow threats. Unless of course you want to join the ranks of the law-breakers you presume to chastise.

Now you are playing the CAIR- AMC muslim victim game. Says alot about you.

You don't know a thing about me. Nothing I've posted justifies this claim.

[texastoo]

The question is, when he is a lame duck, how far left will he go?

That is a nightmare!!!

[Political Junkie Too]

I once jokingly told someone that the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans are sending jobs to India while Democrats are importing workers from Mexico.

-PJ

[Penner]

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.

All made irrelevant by a blanket amnesty, which is what this President really wants although he repeatedly denies it.

[bjcintennessee]

Yup, and what happens when Dan Rather leads off every single newscast, night after night after night, with crying Mexican women and children being hauled out of the country away from the lives they've built in America.

Unfortunately, there are too few here who have your realistic approach. Most posters here contend that between 70-90% of Americans oppose illegal immigrants. If that were the case, then illegals would find insufficient welcome here to stay. If I were so adamantly opposed to illegals that I refused to vote for Bush, then I would already have been boycotting any businesses that I suspected of hiring illegals. Yet all I hear is people complaining that the fast food employees could barely speak English, but obviously picked up their food anyway.

And I am bone weary of people claiming that illegals only take the jobs that Americans won't do. That is nothing but a myth, perpetuated by the liberal media. In my rural town, teenagers eager for summer jobs can't find any -- because the "migrate" workers have moved in to pick the tomatoes, etc. And what about the hundreds of airport screeners who were recently fired because they were here illegally? Or the janitors union in California that was being replaced by illegals?

Geeze, I've fallen into a rant here, but there is so much involved and it is not as black and white as many imply. You mentioned an amnesty for those who are already here, but I think it would be more practical and beneficial to place time restrictions on any amnesty. If one can prove that they have been here for, say, ten years, and have violated no other laws, then they should be on the list for amnesty. But such an amnesty should be directly linked with strict border controls. No border controls -- no amnesty.

You are right in that it would be political suicide to rip all illegals up by their roots and deport them. The sob stories would be never-ending. I really like Sabertooth's notion of clamping down so that the rest deport themselves, but we need a reality check -- that's not going to happen, no matter who is president. That leaves it up to us citizens to come up with a viable solution. I really think a grassroots campaign to boycott all businesses that hire or support illegals could be effective if we could just get it started.

(I also think we need to abolish the anchor baby loop-hole as well.)

[Jorge]

Back to your asinine equation of theft, document fraud and other major offenses to trivial violations - your friend is a criminal.

Oh, so according to you some crimes are acceptable while others are not. Hypocrite.

No one in their right mind would equate a Mexican woman barely making a living as a maid to a "bank robber" as you did.

Your arguments are an embarrassment to the anti-immigration forces.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Huh? Can somebody please translate this conglomeration of worn out cliches for me?"

Everyone here knows what this means... You defend illegal alien criminals at the expense of citizens. You espouse socialist ideology. Whether you are willing to admit it is inconsequential to me.

"The friend I have been defending in this thread is NOT HISPANIC. "

Sorry, no sale Jorge...


"Oh boo-hoo. You are the one who claimed that just because a person's immigration status is not currently legal.."

Your Honor, the citizens rest their case. Jorge cannot even bring himself to utter the word ILLEGAL. A person's status is not not legal...it is ILLEGAL. The fact that you are such an absolutist about I I, puts you in the category of Bustamante's gang. For the race, everything. For the citizens of the US, nothing.

[honeygrl]

I think it's time for you to lay off the pipe. You seem to have a thing about American Indians sooo... The invasion by europeans on america was bad for the indians, right? It pretty much destroyed their whole culture. Yet, the invasion by millions of illegals now is a great idea and good for citizens currently here? Your arguments make no sense. Do you WANT the USA to crumble?

[honeygrl]

"Those guys must think we are idiots."

Apparently, quite a few are buying it hook, line and sinker.

[txdoda]

was thonas jefferson an immigrant? was goerge washington an immigrant? (jodi)

Google is a good search engine for you.>>>>>>>


Glad you caught that BIG BOO-BOO........guess I'm getting sleepy......but I wiil make it a 'true daily double'.


NO THEY WERE NOT IMMIGRANTS.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

The administration made the argument for a homeland security dept, in part, to get a handle on illegal immigration and take steps to enforce immigration law to protect citizens.

It is now obvious that this was a ruse to garner support of those concerned with the INS total incompetence.

The admin never INTENDED to make even a good faith effort, never mind solve real problems. They never even tried to set up a comprehensive dept that is working on the II problems.

I think it was disingenuous. Is there anyone else here who thought that the HS Dept was committed to tackling the Illegal Immigration problem?

[texastoo]

I have a very good hispanic friend who fell in love (at first site) will an illegal alien who has been in this country since 1979. He kept putting off marriage and she finally found out the reason. He has worked construction for all these years and never paid a dime of income tax. He was married once during this time and his wife kept the books and kept him from paying income tax so he says. Needless to say,this romance has dwindled as my friend thinks she will be the one stuck with the income tax. However, she did ask him why he never paid and he said that if he got caught, he would just go back to Mexico. I actually believe that is the mentality of many illegals.

[honeygrl]

I completely agree. I think each one who comes here illegally might as well be spitting in the face of all those trying to come here legally and need a better life just as much as Mexicans, if not more.

[txdoda]

was thomas jefferson an immigrant?
was goerge washington an immigrant?
were they illegal?>>>>>>>>

NO, they were both CITIZENS.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Is there anyone else here who thought that the HS Dept was committed to tackling the Illegal Immigration problem?

Of course not, which is why any claim by Bush/Ridge that in the future immigration laws will be enforced is laughable.

[Jorge]

"According to your logic everybody who ever exceeded the speed limit said "F*** you all!" to every other car on the road.."

Well, that is pretty much what you are doing when you go 90 in a 55 zone.

56 or above is technically illegal in a 55 MPH zone. And we all know most drivers go above 60. And we think nothing about it.

My point is that we should not get self-righteous about the Mexican woman struggling to get by as a maid, just because here papers aren't totally legit.

What crimes are you actually OPPOSED to, if any? You seem to think all crimes are equal. They aren't.

No. I think crime is crime. I am tired of the hypocrites in this thread. That is not the same thing as saying ALL crime is equal.

I agree that some crimes are more severe and bring greater consequenses.

But I am not the one equating bank robbery to overstaying your visa. Give me a major break.

[honeygrl]

So DO you support total open borders and legal status to people from ALL countries (even those full of terrorists that want to destroy us?) Or do you just favor Mexico?

[BnBlFlag]

"Legalization by deportation...........". AMEN!

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"You don't know a thing about me. Nothing I've posted justifies this claim."

Sure I do. You have a weak character and protect illegal alien lawbreakers more than Johnnie Cochran defended OJ. You do not give a damn about your fellow citizens' rights, but will fight till the death for criminals of Hispanic descent. You played the race card. Reviewing your posts, I submit that YOU may be the racist here.

And as far as my 'hollow threats' go, I made no such threats. One thing I can tell you. I look the other way when it comes to illegals every day. Never hassled/dimed in one of them. That is the way all Americans behave now, even toward illegal lawbreakers. Instead of bashing US citizens, maybe you and your illegal army should thank God for our BENEVOLENCE.

Are you feeling me, ingrate?