[ClintonBeGone]

Viva Bush
Viva Rove
Viva Victory in 2004

[usnret99]

undocumented=illegal

When will all the polititians learn. For all the good I have emailed my Senators, Reps and President Bush. Anyone have any ideas on what else to try.

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[Pest]

Mexican officials have complained that the Bush administration has used post-Sept. 11 security concerns as an excuse to better protect, rather than allow freer movement over the U.S.-Mexican border.

So where's the problem?

[boris]

Bush ready to unveil his immigration package

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.

[sergeantdave]

Rent a giant warehouse.

Fill one corner with empty cardboard boxes.

Place posters in Spanish all over town: "Needed - Workers to pack boxes."

After several hundred illegals arrive at warehouse, call INS to arrest illegals.

Repeat all over America.

Soon, illegals will be afraid to go to work and will return home.

[Bikers4Bush]

"It's important for America to be a welcoming society. We are a nation of immigrants, and we're better for it."

Keep drinking the kool aid.

We can be welcoming of LEGAL aliens, we should kick illegals to the curb.

[healey22]

President wants something then he's got to give something. Interior Enforcement. What are the consequences if you overstay your guest worker visa? We don't have any enforcement now. Will we have it under the Presidents new plan. How about an additional 10,0000 enforcemnent officers? No anchor babies, no petitioning for relatives to join guest worker and no welfare. There has to be a federal database that states can access to prevent guest workers from becoming public charges of the states. Then we need a federal database to see who overstays their guest worker visa and feds need to notify and work together with local law enforcement to promplty deport them. There has to be visible consequences or the President gets nothing. And, no Amnesty for the 12-20 million illegal aliens already here.

[Hacksaw]

WASHINGTON – President Bush is proposing to let foreign workers who have U.S. jobs waiting for them enter America – a move designed to help repair relations with Mexico and capture Latino voters in this year's election.

Why on earth do we need to repair our relations with Mexico?

[FrontlinesofFreedom]

Howard Dean's position on immigration

http://beta.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=policy_statement_civilrights_immigration

America is an immigrant nation. As President, I will recognize and respect the vital role immigrants have played in building the American community.

Candidate Bush promised that he would be a different kind of Republican, supportive of immigrants and their desires to achieve the American Dream. Candidate Bush promised to revamp the naturalization process so that immigrants who met the requirements could obtain their citizenship in six months or less. In 2001, President Bush said he would work with President Fox of Mexico to develop a new immigration policy that recognized the economic contribution of immigrants, particularly those from Mexico, and that would respect the human rights of these migrants.

Unfortunately, President Bush has not kept these promises.

While he made these promises and invited mariachis to play at the White House, his Attorney General, John Ashcroft, was deputizing local police authorities as junior INS agents to track down undocumented immigrants. Instead of exercising leadership to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, President Bush has turned his back on Mexico and other Latin American countries. He has ignored the dreams of millions of immigrants to become a legitimate part of our society, and not simply its unseen workforce. Instead of revamping and streamlining the immigration agency and its processes, the President has allowed the agency to be swallowed up into the Department of Homeland Security, where immigrants are routinely treated as terrorists until proven otherwise.

We need a White House that will lead Congress to enact real immigration reform. As President, I will work tirelessly to achieve that goal.

*
I will work to ensure that people who work hard, pay taxes, and otherwise obey the rules can become full participants in our society, including becoming citizens.
*
I will work to regularize the inevitable future migration of labor in a way that makes economic and humanitarian sense. Deaths in the desert do neither.
*
I will propose reforms that ensure we can meet our economy’s need for workers at all skill levels, without pitting foreign workers against U.S. workers and while respecting workers' rights including the right to organize.
*
I will work to forge stronger partnerships with countries from which immigrants migrate -- especially Mexico -- so that in the long run, fewer people will be driven by desperation to break laws and risk their lives for basic opportunities that every human being deserves.
*
I will work to ensure that immigrants who are detained by the Department of Homeland Security are afforded their basic civil rights and that our concern for national security does not become another excuse for racial profiling.
*
I will build on our country’s long history of welcoming immigrants in ways that reflect our need for security but do not sacrifice the basic ideals upon which this nation was founded.

[oceanview]

its all talk, I don't expect any of this to actually materialize.