This is an excerpt from President Bush's SOTU speech. But Tancredo writes, "Sadly, the President missed yet another great opportunity to correct his course on immigration reform tonight. The President should have clarified his plan and joined the forces in Congress holding the line against amnesty. Instead, Americans will have to wait and wonder where the President stands on securing our borders, while he pushes for guest workers."
What part of "...that rejects amnesty" did Tancredo not understand?
I want our borders secured; I want immigration ENFORCEMENT, and yes, that means going after our own citizens who hire ILLEGAL aliens; I want immigrants to only be allowed into this country LEGALLY, through the proper paper and security-check channels; I believe that a "Guest Worker" program CAN work; and I am AGAINST any AMNESTY program. The President agrees.
Tancredo understands and I understand. What you don't understand is the huge void between Bush`s deeds and his rhetoric on the issue of immigration reform.
What part of the following don't you understand.
"What has Bush done about the over one million illegals that enter the US every year? NOTHING! What has Bush done about securing our borders? NOTHING! What has Bush done about employers who violate the law? NOTHING!"
Bush has no intention of addressing immigration reform, not now, not ever. Actions speak louder then words. By his inaction, Bush encourages open borders and illegal immigration and for two reasons: cheap labor and Hispanic voters.
I think that a guestworker program will work fabulously well at turning illegals into guests (amnesty). I think it will also work fabulously well at bringing new poor ignorant people into America as guests.
The part I am dubious about is how will we get all these people to leave when their visas expire. I am certain that large numbers of them are not going to leave willingly. We are seeing that now with the Central Americans that we gave temporary guest status a few years ago after the hurricanes and other disasters down there. Now, several years and several extensions of their legal status later, it is clear that they will not leave unless they are forced to leave. And nobody in our government, including our President, is stepping up to the plate to make that happen. If we can't get 300,000 to leave then how will we get 11 million to leave?
Perhaps, since the President has repeatedly declined to do so and you are such a big believer in a guest worker plan you will explain to us HOW THE GUESTS WILL BE MADE TO LEAVE? And while you are at it, perhaps you can explain why if that will be politically feasible 6 years from now it can't just be done right now with the current batch of illegals.
It seems to me that it is either possible to deport 11 million people or it is impossible. I don't see how it can be impossible now but possible 6 years from now. I'm pretty sure that the President is just kicking the can down the road for 6 more years hoping that an amnesty will be easier then.