Bush, Fox, promote plan to ease immigration laws

Knight Ridder Newspapers ^ | 6 March 2004 | Ron Hutcheson

[JackelopeBreeder]

Crawford, Texas - President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox joined forces Saturday to promote Bush's plan for easing immigration laws, as Bush acknowledged that the proposal faces a tough time in Congress.

Standing side-by-side in bright sunshine at Bush's Texas ranch, the two leaders said Bush's plan for a new temporary worker program would help both countries by eliminating the underground market for Mexican workers. The proposal would let an estimated 8 million workers who are in the United States illegally gain legal status as guest workers.

"The people who come to this country make a significant contribution to the American economy," Fox told reporters.

Bush's plan, announced in January, has raised expectations in Mexico and among illegal workers in this country, but it has little chance of passing Congress this year. Republican critics say the proposal would reward illegal immigrants; Democrats complain that it does not do enough to help foreign workers become U.S. citizens.

[FITZ]

I do think it's racist to have completely different immigration policies by race alone. If we need cheap workers --- then bring in those who would work the cheapest --- I think that would be Haitians. If it's to save "economic refugees", that would also be Haitians. Immigration policies should actually be based on what is good for this country --- in that case few uneducated, unskilled especially those who maintain their ties with La Patria.

[Mamzelle]

Fox and Bush--must be some deal in the works.

The thing is--I find it hard to believe that Bush would really be afraid of Fox. If Fox threatened to campaign in America against him, there'd be plenty who'd take Bush's part, and many Americans who would be highly resentful of the outsider Fox--probably even some rightward Democrats.

I don't understand. I can make no sense of this.

Or, the sense I do make is highly unpleasant, and I'm not really prepared to face it.

[txdoda]

I am calling congressmen tomorrow and ask about the "NAFTA professionals". Do you have any information about this?>>>>>>

No, if we had a thread I missed it........however, Fox bragged he was also happy about the "NAFTA Visa's" yesterday.

Here is a link & some of the info I found.....


http://www.visalaw.com/03dec3/2dec303.html

(snip)

The procedures are different for Mexican citizens . Until December 31, 2003, the following rules (which are fairly similar to the H-1B visa process) apply:

· The employer must apply for a TN visa at the Nebraska Service Center, and must present a labor condition application, or if the visa is for a nurse, a labor attestation.

· While Canadians can extend the TN visa indefinitely, TN visas for Mexicans are limited to one year.

· There is also an annual limit of 5,500 TN visas that can be issued to Mexican nationals.

· Mexicans must obtain the TN visa at a US consulate, because they cannot seek one at the border like Canadians can.


After January 1, 2004, the following rules apply to Mexicans:

Mexicans can now apply for a TN visa directly at a US consulate in Mexico and do not need prior approval from US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
There is no longer an annual limit on the number of TN visas that may be issued to Mexicans
Mexicans applying for extensions in the US no longer need to file a Labor Condition Application with their I-129 petition

[FITZ]

Yes I should have cited my source --- here you go:

Colonias FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/border/colonias/faqs.shtml

Per capita annual income for all Texas counties bordering Mexico-where most of the colonias are located-tends to be much lower than the state average of $16,717. In border counties such as Starr, Maverick and Hidalgo, per capita annual incomes in 1994 were $5,559, $7,631 and $8,899, respectively.

[FITZ]

You speak Spanish right? There was also this one ---- today's paper:

‘Controlarán a los gringos’

http://www.diario.com.mx/nota.asp?notaid=d45c0d3bcaf361eefd3adada264d68af

Real indications of assimilation --- not.

[Porterville]

One thing, the Haitians do not even have a small percentage of numbers as the Hispanics, another thing, many of the Hispanics have families here that are legal and separating over 8-12 million unknown people with a country bordering several thousand miles of American land requires a different tactical strategy than Haitian immigrant on a small island seeking refugee status. So your argument doesn't hold water or is honest.

I lived in the bush of Africa for over a year, I don't need to hear from some brat who has never truly seen rugged aggression lecture me on racism, not you, the N. Pacifico-a

[txdoda]

In border counties such as Starr, Maverick and Hidalgo, per capita annual incomes in 1994 were $5,559, $7,631 and $8,899, respectively.>>>>>>

Nobody *cares* about those poor Mexican-Americans we have living in TX.......most without running water & sewer.

I brought this up last night, but the 'disrupter's' never answered.

[FITZ]

Anyhow --- do you believe in the unlimited immigration of people from Haiti --- why or why not? Are there any reasons we wouldn't want to have open borders with Haiti?

[Hamilton2]

I agree.........GW is going to lose the election on this one especially if the Dems are smart enough to equate loss of jobs with open borders.....GW taking care of his billionarie buddies by supplying cheap labor.

[winker]

A plan by any other name would be spelled AMNESTY! Making it easy to steal our Birthright by lowering the bar.... Just great Mr. President thanks loads!!!!! of Criminal illegal Aliens.

[spectre]

Good post..bump.

sw

[Porterville]

Different situation, nobody is supporting open borders for anyone- open borders is a catch all phrase lik "you like little kittens, don't you?" I don't know enough about Haiti only that the black cacus love Aristede and that it is a typical Clinton/Chirac fiasco; war in one country is not the same as unknown illegal populations already here. Bush proposes to find out who are here and make business be accountable to the laws, it is a strategy with the same ends that you have in mind, securing our borders.

[FITZ]

I take it you think immigration from Haiti should be limited --- even if they might be willing to work for far less than the Mexicans? The argument about having families here doesn't cut it --- why should that give preference? Preference really should be based only by what the immigrant can give to this country -- not by what he wishes to take from it.

[moehoward]

I know, common sense is a tough concept, look it up at www.dictionary.com - it will give you a base to start from and then you can work your way up :)
I know you can do it!! Good Luck!!

[Mamzelle]

My Spanish is creaky and rusty--but I can stumble along.

That last article smacked of attitudes I have read in Muslim agitprop--the arrogant American getting smacked down.

Does Bush truly believe he can count on our loyalty, his conservative base, when so much of what he is doing looks like a sellout of America to Vicente's whim? He does not even bother to try to explain it to us. Somebody please explain this to me.

Fox was certainly a hindrance in the War on Terror. Boys come home from Iras to compete with slave labor--our deficit rises and we have to watch cash by the billions sent back to Mexicio via Western Union from workers enjoying jobs and social services in the US?

And he just shrugs at our concerns. He depends on people like me to stuff envelopes to get out the vote...why isn't he talking?

Joe sixpack up the road from me is a small entrepeneur--owns his own rig, lives in a nice clean doublewide (only four people live in it)--Bush wants to give his driving job to a Mexican driver of a Mexican eighteen-wheeler to make our US roads just a little more dangerous.

Am I supposed to knock on Joe's door and ask him to vote for Bush?

Somebody, Karl!! start talking.

[FITZ]

So an illegal who has committed felony document fraud --- presented someone else's social security number and other identification should be allowed to stay? Immigrants that found their way onto SSDI, food stamps, and other welfare programs should stay as long as they come from Mexico?

[txdoda]

I know..........has to be "La Raza"

[Porterville]

How do you find 8-12 million unknown illegal aliens living with legal families? It can't be done without breaking 2-3 of the original Amendments. How? With what money? Why not get them to volunteer who they are, where they are? And at the same time, bust the ball of business breaking the law. That is the Bush plan.

[dennisw]

bttttt You know which side I'm on.

[Mamzelle]

Martha should have been an illegal alien--then she wouldn't have feared enforcement of the law. She's on her way to jail for lying--but it's OK to lie if you're an illegal alien...