Posted on 03/15/2002 1:36:05 AM PST by JohnHuang2
U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday denied he was considering legalizing over three million undocumented Mexicans living in the United States, government news agency Notimex reported.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Bush said he hoped to work with Mexico on the matter, but said he would follow the will of the U.S. people.
"I don't think the wish of Americans is for an amnesty," said Bush, who added he had spoken about the issue with President Vicente Fox.
Bush and Fox are to meet March 22 during the UN Conference on Financing Development in Monterrey, where they will discuss immigration and post-Sept. 11 border security.
Just days before the terrorist attacks, Fox reportedly had been close to inking a deal that would have granted legal status to an estimated 3.5 million undocumented Mexicans and worker visas to many more.
"We've been working very closely with Mexico," said Bush.
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow thousands of Mexicans living in the United States to apply for visas without returning to Mexico. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate.
Bush called the measure "a good step" and urged its fast approval as a show of good faith to its southern neighbor.
The hotel and restaurant industries had been pushing hard for the bill, arguing they would be short staffed if thousands of their Mexican employees were forced to return home to apply for visas.
"What we need to do is find a way to guarantee that the wishes of employers are in balance with those of the workers," said Bush.
Several Republican lawmakers, however, have voiced opposition to loosening any immigration laws before a top-to-bottom overhaul of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the U.S. Border Patrol.
Bush reiterated his administration's priority of achieving a safe and orderly border, and said he was confident he and Fox could agree on a plan.
"We've had a good dialogue and I don't think it's something that requires a law," said Bush.
stevensonjacobs@hotmail.com
It would seem to me a bad idea to have criminals (ilegal immigrants) handling and preparing our food.
We shall see john we shall see......... and where did they get the number on ileagles least i heard it was 6-8 million ileagles?
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow thousands of Mexicans living...
Bush called the measure "a good step" and urged its fast approval...
Kind of like triple speak. Which is it Mr X43 in 2004.
Sort of like extortion. Congress took a page right out of Al Capones book for this one.
Will this money go into illegal, under the table, campaign finance accounts?
You deal with criminals everyday but they are called Americans because they we born here. Obviously you haven't been harmed too much by them. So can we assume that just Mexicans bother you?
God, some of you zealouts are totally nuts!
Lord, I hope Bush didn't say that. Clintoon "followed the will of the people" and look where we ended up.
I hope President Bush shows some leadership in this situation and does NOT listen to the stupid few who just happen to be screaming the loudest.
Yes. We've gained nothing by changing administrations. We are still debating the meaning of is .
You deal with criminals everyday but they are called Americans because they we born here. Obviously you haven't been harmed too much by them. So can we assume that just Mexicans bother you?
God, some of you zealouts are totally nuts!
I never mentioned any ethnicity or race. It is YOU that has played the "race" card in this discussion up to this point.
I merely stated that I think it not a good idea to have non-citizens that are breaking the law handling our food.
And as far as dealing with criminals everyday, well, to the best of my knowledge once these "american criminals" have been identified, they can be arrested, such is not the case of these non-american law breakers.
THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE GOOD REASON TO GIVEN AMENESTY TO THIS GROUP. Voting for it can not be defended other than it being for personal gain, due to mental defect, or desire to harm this country.
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