In English?
Posted on 01/06/2004 7:17:29 AM PST by putupon
Edited on 01/06/2004 9:30:13 AM PST by Lead Moderator. [history]
[Moderator's note: threads regarding immigration issues and border issues have been spiralling out of control for some time on Free Republic. This is going to change. Fair warning: this would be a very poor thread to engage in flame warring, flame baiting, or otherwise being needlessly instigative. If you have not yet read this thread, you may want to before engaging in the debate on this or other similar threads. If there are any questions regarding the new scrutiny of these threads, please take them to that thread rather than cluttering up these threads.
Up until last night, people had been very cooperative with this effort, and for that I was grateful. Last night, I think there must have been a full moon or something, but we'll get that straightened out.
Thanks, and happy Freeping.]
The president has been silent on the immigration issue for two years, but advocacy groups are being invited to the White House on Wednesday to hear details of a proposal to match willing foreign workers, mostly from Mexico, with receptive U.S. employers.
There are an estimated 10 million undocumented workers in the United States, as many as half of them from Mexico.
"The president has long talked about the importance of having an immigration policy that matches willing workers with willing employers," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Monday. "It's important for America to be a welcoming society. We are a nation of immigrants, and we're better for it."
The announcement comes just before Bush's scheduled meeting with Mexico's President Vicente Fox next week at the Summit of the Americas in Monterey, Mexico. Mexican officials have complained bitterly at times that while the Bush administration has sought their.....
(Excerpt) Read more at signonsandiego.com ...
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Massachusetts | 295.00 |
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1.13 |
135.00 |
9 |
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So where's the problem?
If they didn't, there's no one to administer this program.
I just got hit for a tagline by the AM here
Guest worker plan has been hinted at
By Michelle Mittelstadt
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
January 6, 2004
WASHINGTON – Placed in the deep freeze after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the debate over immigration policy revives in earnest this week when President Bush offers a sweeping mix of legislative and administrative proposals designed to improve the lives of immigrants.
Although the White House has been tight-lipped about specifics of the blueprint expected to be unveiled as early as tomorrow, Bush and his aides in recent weeks have suggested support for a guest worker program, making it easier for foreigners to work here legally and offering a pathway to legal residence for up to 12 million people here illegally.
Bush also is considering permitting Mexicans who worked in the United States, then returned home, to collect Social Security benefits, a Mexican government official said yesterday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Although the United States has similar agreements with 20 other countries, the proposed deal with Mexico has proven to be controversial largely because of its potential effect on the fiscally unsound Social Security system. Congressional investigators estimate payments to eligible Mexicans could top $650 million yearly by 2050.
White House officials declined yesterday to preview the immigration plan being unveiled days before Bush meets Monday with Mexican President Vicente Fox at the Summit of the Americas, a meeting of the hemisphere's leaders in Monterrey, Mexico.
"I think the president will have more to say soon on his approach to matching willing workers with willing employers," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "There is certainly an economic need that exists."
In Mexico City, a government official close to the immigration talks said the White House has "not fully disclosed their plans with us yet."
"Nonetheless, we're extremely happy that President Bush is now engaged," the official said, speaking on condition he not be named.
Advocates in the loose alliance of business, immigrant-rights, labor and religious groups pressing for relaxed immigration rules welcomed White House involvement.
But some offered cautious support, questioning whether Bush will invest political capital in getting immigration policy changes – always a tough sell – through Congress.
"I think it's good they are getting back into the debate," said Cecilia Munoz, vice president of the National Council of La Raza. "But this is an election year and there are questions about whether this is a serious policy effort or just campaign posturing."
Rep. Jeff Flake, co-author of a bill that would provide visas for temporary workers and provide a path to legal residence for illegal immigrants, said Bush's entry into the fray will boost his legislation's prospects.
"As to whether or not we can get it this year, it remains to be seen," the Arizona Republican said, acknowledging that some prominent congressional critics could derail the bill.
"Moving it through the House will require presidential leadership," Flake said.
The head of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors reduced immigration rates, said it's doubtful Congress will get anything done on immigration this year.
"Part of it is because this is so radical that I don't see Republicans being able to vote for this, at least not too many of them," said Mark Krikorian.
Immigration, which GOP strategists view as a key strategy to woo Hispanic voters, could backfire on the administration, Krikorian said. "Amnesty for illegal aliens is the kind of thing that can really get the conservative base energized against the White House," he said.
In English?
Before everyone starts screaming "amnesty!", let's get a look at the proposal. What I read a few days ago was in the form of a guest worker program. I know that is just as bad to many of you, but let's look at this:
1.)It would reduce or eliminate a lot of the illegal immigration. Workers that had jobs lined up could come in legally for a specific period of time, then go home when the jobs were done, instead of staying here on welfare.
2.) It would allow us to monitor and screen the people who do come into the country better than we do now.
3.) A lot of the illegals who now work under the table would pay US taxes.
4.) It would help prevent voter fraud, since we would be better able to determine who was here on a work visa. As a matter of fact, some of the Democrats don't like the proposal, saying that Bush wants these people to be workers, not voters" (well, duh!). It would also help us to send these people home when their jobs ended.
The proposal I have seen is not perfect by any means. I would like to see the law changed so that a if a worker has a baby while here on a visa, that child does not automatically become a US citizen. But I don't see this as a surrender to political correctness. There have been Mexicans coming across the border to work for longer than any of us have been alive. If they can come in legally, work the season in the fields, pay taxes, then go home when the season is over, knowing they can come back the next year to work, they are much less likely to move their whole families here to be a burden on our welfare system.
Suit yourself, but I happen to think they need to sign on to President Bush's plan.
It's all about the free market. However, I think your view that we're still competing against other countries is a bit outdated. This is economic competition at it's finest.
Or invade your neighbors home.
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