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I tend to agree with your sentiments, both with what you agree with GWB on, and with what you disagree with him on. I struggle to justify his actions wrt the illegal alien issue, for two reasons. First, the alternative viable candidates offer only worse solutions, and second, I do believe that some things this administration would like to do have to be dealt with in such a way that the generally anti-GOP, anti-Bush media do not brainwash the sheeple into a DEM victory during this time of war next November.

One thing that has not been mentioned in all the media hype about the guest visa proposal is that bringing hundreds of thousands of workers into the system means those people who were hiding their funds in matresses have incentive to invest that in the market, via retirement alternatives to Social Security.

GWB is supposed to try to resurrect the privatized Social Security program at his SOTU speech. Suppose the social security program he intends for guest workers is privatized? It becomes a vehicle to get rid of the current redistribution tax, and an incentive to invest in the market.

I have a problem with bringing foriegn workers into SS (of course I personally would opt out and relinquish all my contributions if I could stop pay FICA today), but I have no problem with mexican workers investing in the same mutual fund IRA's, 401k's, and other retirement mechanisms available out there, and collecting the dividends upon their retirement. In my mind, that is good for the US economy as well as any worker, domestic or foriegn, who contributes.

So if I have "kool-aide" thoughts, its that there may be linkage between these two issues that through stratery, the admin is thinking about, but just not advertising yet.

Please note, my support of this is concept contingent upon the program being a guest visa program, not an amnesty program. But I acknowledge those who point out that the illegals are already here, and politically, it would be impossible to simply deport them all, what with Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw broadcasting every night into our living rooms the terrible impact it will have on their lives once they are returned to third world conditions.

Border Patrol union calls plan 'a slap in the face'

By Joe Cantlupe
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
January 13, 2004

WASHINGTON - President Bush's proposal to grant temporary legal status to millions of illegal immigrants has many U.S. Border Patrol agents grumbling and bracing for a possible surge in illegal immigration. "Everybody thinks it's a slap in the face," said T.J. Bonner, a San Diego-based agent and head of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents 10,000 agents.

Bush's plan would create a temporary worker program for undocumented immigrants already in the United States and for people in other countries who have been offered jobs here. Bush said they would not receive special consideration for permanent residence or citizenship.

The Border Patrol union, which doesn't like the proposal, has sent a letter to its members urging them to speak out about it.

"Regardless of how you feel about President Bush, I think most of us would agree that his proposal is a slap in the face to anyone who has ever tried to enforce the immigration laws of the U.S.," wrote John Frecker, a vice president of the National Border Patrol Council. "It implies that the country really wasn't serious about it in the first place, in spite of what you were told about 'the big picture.' "

Border Patrol Agent Bud Tuffly, who has patrolled the desert in Arizona for nearly 20 years, recalled the surge of illegal immigrants who crossed the border in advance of Congress' landmark 1986 amnesty.

"We saw the numbers skyrocket and all this naturally encourages them to come across," said Tuffly, a union representative in Tucson, Ariz. "You have to do your job. It's very demoralizing to do your job. We have rocks thrown at us daily. We had a guy from Yuma who died. Why?"

In announcing the proposal, Bush administration officials said a key factor in accepting foreigners into the program would be whether they already had a job in the United States - or the promise of one if they are living outside the United States.

While some Homeland Security officials privately echoed concerns that the proposal might trigger an influx, the agency's official reaction was more muted.

"It's premature to comment on any proposed legislation concerning immigration reform," said Mario Villarreal, a spokesman for Homeland Security's border enforcement branch.

David A. Martin, a former general counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said he believes Border Patrol agents "have a legitimate concern" about a possible rush of illegal immigration while the president's plan is being considered.

"The proposal is fraught with perverse incentives," said Martin, a professor at the University of Virginia. "There is an incentive for people to come in and establish some relationship with an employer. And there hasn't been a cutoff date under the president's plan. I can see the concern that the Border Patrol agents have."

In the past, shifts in immigration policy have triggered rushes.

In 1993, then-President Clinton agreed to consider asylum requests of Haitians interdicted at sea. The announcement was followed by a large number of Haitians taking to the sea in leaky, overloaded boats and rafts in hopes of getting asylum interviews.

Later, the Clinton administration responded to the 1998 devastation of Hurricane Mitch in Central America by granting temporary protected status to Hondurans and Nicaraguans who could prove they were living illegally in the United States before the hurricane. While no mass immigration crisis occurred, border agents reported an increase in the number of Central Americans being caught at the border shortly after the hurricane.

In 1986, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegal immigrants and introduced penalties for employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers.

Border agents reported a large surge in illegal crossing in the months leading up to enactment as people sought to get into the United States in time to apply for the amnesty, even though many of their claims were fraudulent.

Although the 1986 act was designed to stem the illegal flow, it didn't work. The estimated illegal population was 6 million then. Today, it is estimated to be between 8 million and 12 million.

Retired Border Patrol Agent Mike Cutler, who has testified repeatedly before Congress about homeland security issues, called Bush's plan "lunacy, crazy, madness, foolish, naive."

"In 1986, we had the first amnesty, it was supposed to be a one-shot deal," Cutler said. "People came out of the shadows."

Deborah Meyers, an analyst with the Migration Policy Institute, said she doesn't expect a significant increase in the population of illegal immigrants.

"The program is very open and very broad - for any willing worker for any willing employer," she said. "I don't think we'll see a lot more illegal immigration. But things still have to be worked out."