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
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?
No, no, no, he's talking about 6-8 million ill beagles.
Sheesh, do I have to do everything around here?
Be Seeing You,
Chris
That's not the only thing illegals are doing. You should read up on the Mexican drug cartels and how they've created a vast network into the US using illegals to deliver and distribute drugs. It's very likely more are involved in the drug trade than are picking apples.
He cannot be trusted. I am so disappointed in that man.
One of the problems that make this issue so controversial, why in the hell are the hotel and restaurant industries being permitted to hire these people in the first place? Last time I checked, it was against the law to hire undocumented workers. Laws that are not enforced are a waste of the paper they are written on.
This is typical of a government that has grown beyond it's capability to be administratively effective. And this is all at the expense of the working tax payers who pay these porkers to literally screw us. Now look at the solution they are proposing to solve the problem that they created in the first place.
Oh now I get it. He won't "grant" them amnesty, he's SELLING amnesty......
It would seem to me a bad idea to have criminals (ilegal immigrants) handling and preparing our food.
There's the rub!!! It never ceases to amaze me how many others on this site like to bash the illegals, when the real problems is THERE NEIGHBORS IN THE LANDSCAPING, RESTAURANT and HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY!!!
From the looks of things (especially around FR), it doesn't matter what Bush does, right? I mean, we're gonna have those who whine no matter what.
Straighten me out if I've went astray somewhere.
Thanks.
Best idea yet... With the tax base that we could build there (tourist industry, at least) we might be able to afford the health care for all the illegals.
You got that right. Don't trust Bush any farther than you can throw him.
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