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.

[Pro-Bush]

Ping!

[SUSSA]

We have the laws and the resources to stop these criminals from continuing their law breaking. All we need is an administration that will enforce the laws. Of course, that means we need an administration that takes their oaths of office more seriously than Clinton takes his marriage vows.

There was a lot of sermonizing here on FR about the rule of law when Clinton was ignoring the laws he was supposed to be enforcing. Now that it’s Lyndon Baines Bush ignoring his responsibility, many here no longer care about the rule of law.

[Klickitat]

Jorge: "I have a friend who's illegal but has been working here for 17 years. I hope Bush makes it easier for people like him to stay here legally."

Sabertooth: "Your criminal friend should be deported."

Jorge: "You should be locked up if you ever exceeded the speed limit."

Jorge: "Hypocrite."

Hypocrite? Sounds like you're the hypocrite. You have no problem with your friend breaking the law yet you would like to see sabertooth punished more than the infraction legally warrants? What is hypocritical about wanting the law enforced? The law is that illegal aliens should be deported. Someone speeding should be ticketed.

If you and our politicians don't like our immigration laws then maybe you should remove them and go to an open border. Until that time don't go all righteous on those of us tired of seeing our immigration laws broken not just by illegals, but by companies and all levels of government here in the US (can you say corruption?).
Polls show anywhere from 70-86% of Americans consider illegal immigration a serious problem. Politicians are elected by the American people to represent our interests. By pretending they can't do anything about illegal immigration they sidestep having to open the borders which is what they want. If they did try to pass an open border provision they would be voted out of office.
As it is, they may suffer more than they realizer if they start passing amnesties. Look what happened to Gray Davis in California. Exit polls showed that fully 30% of those voting to replace him did so based on just one thing: his passing the driver licenses for illegals legislation.

[Pro-Bush]

There was a lot of sermonizing here on FR about the rule of law when Clinton was ignoring the laws he was supposed to be enforcing. Now that it’s Lyndon Baines Bush ignoring his responsibility, many here no longer care about the rule of law.

Very well said! I love America.

[Klickitat]

When I can't tell the difference between the names sarcasm and sabertooth, is when I realize I really need to quit posting before I have coffee in the morning.

[dennisw]

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.

Good post there and please note that recent immigrants and illegal immigrants gravitate to cash businesses. They positively love to be a cash business. Put simply, recent arrivals are cheating on their taxes like crazy. More so than the native born. Businesses that deal in cash (not all cash necessarily) such as restaurants, pushcarts, taxi and limo companies, newsstands, convenience stores. Cash businesses by definition are invitations to tax evasion.

[HennepinPrisoner]

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.

Erm....you started these ridiculous analogies by comparing an illegal alien with a traffic speeder. And you are calling me "incredible"?

Buddy, you were the one that started the stupid analogies by telling another Freeper he was a hypocrite because he didn't think a traffic speeder should be jailed!

Hey pot! I'm Kettle. You calling me black?

[HennepinPrisoner]

Nuts. A few anti-immigrant bigots may stay home, but most of us (the Bush base) will crawl over broken glass to vote him a second term.

Nah....I am one anti-illegal that surely won't be staying home on election day. I'll be voting for the candidate that will deport your greedy, selfish, line-jumping illegal friend...pond scum that he is.

[azhenfud]

"Do you really think it's feasible to round up and deport 12 million illegals?"

First, it is estimated some $3 BILLION per year are spent in border states on Illegaliens for every type of service. Secondly, the new freeby plan of those "conservatives" allocates ANOTHER $1 BILLION to "reimburse" providers for medical care for Illegaliens.

Aside from the security risk if millions of illiterates applying for driver's licenses and can't read (which we HAVE to accommodate - at an additional cost), can we really continue affording NOT to? This was NOT supposed to be the land of the freeby and the home of the slave.

But, don't expect any "conservatives" in office to actually support constitutional laws intended to protect the common citizen.

[BlackbirdSST]

were the pilgrams immigrants? was thomas jefferson an immigrant? was goerge washington an immigrant? were they illegal? I'll bet the indians thought so. you people have got to get a grip!

After 237 post it's a bit late to suggest to you to shut up lest you make a fool of yourself in your endeavor to be a shill. You should go back to America 101 and do some fact checking! You are dumb as dirt when it comes to our history. Blackbird.

[azhenfud]

"I have a friend who's illegal but has been working here for 17 years. I hope Bush makes it easier for people like him to stay here legally."

Some friend, to wish him into the same mess citizens have to endure. He gets more now than he ever will legally.

[CIBGUY]

There is no doubt that the U.S. is in serious jeopardy from politicians like Mr. Bush, who will seize any opportunity to gain votes. That's all this is,nothing more. Like NAFTA, we have politicians willing to sell America down the river to criminals and their supporters. It might not mean much, by I'm not supporting any candidate who ignores his oath of office to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land. Illegal aliens are FELONS and should be treated as such, not coddled. Our "catch and release" program is just a waste of American dollars. One way to get Vincente Fox to pay attention would be to cut off trade with Mexico.

[CIBGUY]

The answer is really very simple. Don't waste time trying to get the illegals. They have nothing to lose. Go after the people that hire the. Stiff fines, jail time for repeat offenders, civil suits etc. That would do it, but it would require vigorous enforcement

[BlackbirdSST]

If he attempts this policy, it will be his his first major mistake.

Thanks, it's alway's good to go into the Holiday's with a bit of humor! Blackbird.

[DumpsterDiver]

it is estimated some $3 BILLION per year are spent in border states on Illegaliens for every type of service.

On Dec. 22nd the L.A. Times ran an article titled Clearing Out Bad Data on Illegal Immigrants by Michael Hiltzik.

The relevant sentence reads:

So here's the bottom line: The total the state [California] spends on illegal immigrants is no more than $4.6 billion a year...

The article failed to take into account the costs of incarcerating illegals (for crimes other than being here illegally) so the costs for the border states for "services" to illegal aliens is likely much higher than $3 billion.

[BOBTHENAILER]

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

Fair enough.

[King Prout]

the pilgrims were immigrants. GW and TJ were not. The indians were destroyed by a wave of foreign invaders. They had no chance, being a stone-age culture confronted by a proto-industrial one. We, on the other hand, are not so powerless, and should look to the indian experience as an illustration of what happens to a people who let too many foreigners squat on their turf.
You just destroyed your own argument and any shred of credibility you might have had.
You have also clearly NOT looked into laeti.
Your pose of superiority (progressiveness and compassion) is threadbare.

[VU4G10]

GEE, HE'S GOING TO OUT-PANDER THE NINE DWARFS!

[BOBTHENAILER]

Obviously for a few here, he's like God and can do no wrong.

Not true in my case, so don't label me.

The alternative however, stinks to high heaven.

[Huck]

Amnesty for Illegals is absolutely unpalatable

Wanna bet?