Bush says he won't legalize immigrants

The News Mexico ^ | Friday, March 15, 2002 | Stevenson Jacobs, The News Staff - 3/14/2002

[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

[skeeter]

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!!!

Hey, as far as contempt for greedy & unethical American employers of illegal labor is concerned, I'm second to nobody.

I feel almost the same way about most users of H1B labor.

Skinflints & taskmasters.

[Marine Inspector]

First of all the bill does not grant amnesty, it allows illegals to extend their stay by paying $1000.

First of all your wrong, and it has nothing to do with extending their stay. It is about Residency and it is a form of amnesty.

These aliens are in this country illegally. If they wished to apply for Residency, by law, they would be required to return to their home country and apply for the visa.

In their home country, they would be required to pass a criminal background check of their record in their home country and the US.

Under 245(i), they pay the $1000.00 and bypass the home country background check, and the US background check is done by some clerk, not a Law Enforcement officer.

On top of that, 245(i) was originally removed from the 1996 INA (Immigration & Naturalization Act) because of the fraud that in propitiates (marriage fraud being the largest).

It also send to wrong message to those that are legally trying to immigrate to this country.

[sinkspur]

It's not an amnesty, no matter how many times you jump up and down, hold your breath and turn red saying that it is.

The air has gone out of your balloon and you're trying to keep the air in it.

[ArGee]

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?

That's a lot of sick birds!

;)

[Sabertooth]

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.

There's actually no direct quote in this article to support the headline, but let's give the President the benefit of the doubt momentarily, and assume that a true "Bush says he won't legalize (illegal alien) immigrants" quote was hastily omitted...

The House just passed (under Bush Administration pressure) surreptitious modifications to Section 245(i), which apply specifically to illegals, fining them $1,000 without deporting them.

If a burglar is fined, but allowed to keep his stolen merchandise, has the law really been upheld?

If the Senate approves and Bush signs the 245(i) modifications, we'll have a mini-amnesty for about 200,000 illegals, against the will of the American people.

And we'll also have a liar in the White House by the name of George W. Bush.

BTW, Mr. President, the will of the American people is to deport illegals.

[Marine Inspector]

we'll have a mini-amnesty for about 200,000 illegals

I'd bet it will be closer to 350,000.

[dennisw]

Please keep me on any ping list you have. I may not reply but I do check out the threads!

[Sabertooth]

I'd bet it will be closer to 350,000.

You might be right, but I'll concede whatever number the proponents of the 245(i) mods put up. That's not the issue at the moment.

The issue is this...

Are illegals fined without being deported?

If they get to stay, it's Amnesty for a fee.

If they get to stay, our government has gone coyote.

[antidemocommie]

"I don't think the wish of Americans is for an amnesty," said Bush

NO JOKE, GW!

[Shermy]

"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. "

For sure there are sneaky ways around this "amnesty", using other words, terms. But I think the "wish" of the American people was heard, at least some. And I bet a lot of it was generated by you guys!

Grampa - usually the "wish of the people" is manufactured by journalists and the like. I don't see any such "wish" generated there. Another win for the denizens of the internet?

[majordivit]

"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.

90 Percent of the American people oppose amnesty for illegals or legitimizing illegals or whatever the evil elite new world order multinational corporate traitors who control the media and both political parties want to call it.

I expect Bush to return from Mehico hold high a piece of paper and saying...I hold in my hand a piece of paper that bears the signature of El Presidente Fox... We have peace in our time...

[dennisw]

The INS is so screwed up and lazy they would rather get $1000 out of these scam artists than to deport them. The INS so rarely deports anyone. This is what is really going on.

95% of those deported are those Mexicans and others who are found within 50 miles of our southern border and who agree to voluntarily deported back to Mexico. No muss/ no fuss/ no paperwork.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

I'd bet it will be closer to 350,000.

And after they bring in all their relatives, who bring in their relatives thanks to daisy chain immigration it will end up being 2 million or more.

[antidemocommie]

Hes getting as bad as clinton was...he says the things that each group wants to hear. If GW allows mojados to stay in the US, he will join his father as a one term, but popular president.

Read my lips! No Amnesty For Illegals

[Regulator]

Perhaps he heard a rumour that the peasants were upset.

And soon will send Sir Rodney to quell the Turbulent Masses...

[Regulator]

Who will, of course, have 3.4 children per unmarried teenager and convert to about 6 million people within, oh, about 7 - 8 years.

[RnMomof7]

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.

Do you wonder why the President of the United States needs to talk to the President of Mexico about amnesty for Mexicans? Especially since those illegals will be able to vote in Mexican Elections?

So will the American Mexicans have duel citizenship?

Why do I think the President is lying about this?

[KDD]

BTW, Mr. President, the will of the American people is to deport illegals.

Don,t whisper...SHOUT.

[Nea Wood]

He denies he is considering an amnesty while his agents have been pressuring Congress for an amnesty.

The Prez did not say that he is against amnesty. He said the American people are not for it. I've always thought that if the Prez had his way, he'd grant amnesty, (but not for some of the evil reasons that some have ascribed to him. But that's another story.) Anyway, the point is, we, the people, have spoken loud and clear and apparently have gotten our message to Bush. Now he can go to Fox and say, "Sorry, Amigo, no can-do on the blanket amnesty. The people will not have it."

Anytime anything even resembling amnesty is being proposed, we have to keep protesting at the top of our lungs. It appears we are getting through.

[abigail2]

I heard it was 18 million!!