President Bush Proposes New Temporary Worker Program [Transcript]

The White House ^ | Jan 7, 2004 | President George W. Bush

[JerseyHighlander]

Undocumented workers now here will be required to pay a one-time fee to register for the temporary worker program. Those who seek to join the program from abroad, and have complied with our immigration laws, will not have to pay any fee.

In other words, I will create a wealth transfer system similar to the loan sharks and shysters who stole billions of dollars from Jews being "deported to work camps". And this line of work, the exploitation of the legally defenseless, will be legal, under my proposals. This program, as described, as someone else said above, when put in the context of the reality of the streets, is reprehensible. From my experiences here in New Jersey, I can tell you that illegals will be exploited by loan sharks (I mean immigration assistance centers) to cover the fines to apply for blue cards. President Bush speaks of adding a fuller understanding of American History to citizenship tests (a proposal that can and wil be perverted by Democrats in the future), this test will not mention the plight of indentured servants in our past. That will be glanced over.

I reserved my humble opinion until I heard the man out, hoping he would follow some common sense and secure the perimeter before trying to compromise on a course of action regarding illegal aliens in the country. This is a reward for illegal behavior, a creation of a human exploitation system, and a insult to the work ethic of millions of Americans citizens.

As a citizen of NJ, I can't even sit at home on election day to protest.

[NittanyLion]

When you apply for your blue card you must be employed. Your employer will be listed. The employer will be notified of his responsibilities. It's easy enough to check out because if they are not reported on their unemployment reports each quarter that's it. INS turns up, asks where the employee is, when the boss says he's not there he will be asked why he failed to report him on his quarterlies. The cuffs will come out because one way or the other the employer has broken the law. Easy.

ROFL. Easy, huh?

I'm speechless.

[NittanyLion]

Outstanding point.

[McGavin999]

This is not a government pardon. (BTW, past amnesties allowed people to apply for their citizenship) This is a temporary worker's program, good for only 3 years, you must be employed and stay employed or you return home. There are two "punishments" in there that have NEVER been in the amnesty program. Posting a fee, and the requirement to remain employed.

[KantianBurke]

"The cuffs will come out because one way or the other the employer has broken the law."

[King Black Robe]

They still can apply for citizenship. Amnesty just means they will not pay the price for their past lawbreaking. It never meant automatic citizenship. Besides, when you get all the benefits of citizenship without its liabilities, who needs it?

[george wythe]

, I can tell you that illegals will be exploited by loan sharks

The fine could be deducted from their pay check the same way the IRS deducts taxes.

You brought up a good point and should e-mail your Congressman with your input.

[McGavin999]

Very easy. Are you aware that every new employee must be reported to the unemployment department within 2 days of being employed so they can be checked for outstanding child support payments? Are you aware that in less then 2 weeks most states will notify you of the amount to be withheld for that employee to pay his child support? If that system can be used for child support, it could also be used for guest workers.

[NittanyLion]

This is not a government pardon.

Hmmm...these workers have broken the law, right? And they're now off the hook for those violations, are they not?

No pardon, huh? Your ability to spin is right up there with Begala, Carville, et al.

[FrontlinesofFreedom]

The Amnesty Trapdoor...


http://nationalreview.com/script/printpage.asp?ref=/jos/jos200401060850.asp

[TexasCowboy]

Before we jump off the cliff with the rest of the lemmings, let's look at this program fairly.

Are you old enough to remember the Bracero Program?
Employers had to request a certain number of workers whom they would provide for and pay a minimum wage.
At the end of their agreed upon time to work here they returned to Mexico.
The only difference I can see in the Bracero Program and GW's program is that these workers can now apply for permanent legal citizenship.
Isn't that what we've been clamoring for all along?

[McGavin999]

No, they can apply for a green card. Once they obtain a green card they can apply for citizenship. But it's clearly stated that in order to apply for a green card they have to go through regular channels, get to the back of the line behind the others who are applying, and there is no guarantee.

[CalKat]

If they wanted to, INS could easily round up illegal immigrants now in the way you propose. Why don't they just do that? And everyone already knows the rules now, they just ignore them. If anything, the new rules are more complicated than the current rules. Under the current rules, if you don't have a green card and you are living here, you are here illegally. Now there will be blue cards, green cards, fees, job postings, three year terms, etc. Do you think that we will follow a multitude of new laws when we don't enforce the one law we have now?

[FrontlinesofFreedom]

Do you plan on picking them up and giving them a ride home?????

[alnick]

By saying, "There are some jobs that Americans will not do," he is directly insulting the work ethic of millions of hard-working American citizens.

Well, wait a minute. You've posted what purports to be a direct quote from the speech on a thread which starts with a transcript of that speech, and your quote appears nowhere in that speech. I did a search on your quoted words, and the first hit I got was your post.

[CalKat]

Why do you keep insisting this is not amnesty? Amnesty has nothing to do with citizenship. This program offered by Bush is amnesty, no matter what you or he call it.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[george wythe]

...these workers have broken the law, right? And they're now off the hook for those violations, are they not?

They're not off the hook.

The capital punishment for immigration violations is deportation, not the death penalty.

A fine is a reasonable compromise between no punishment and deportation.

Whether they go back to Mexico and apply for free, or they stay in the US and pay the fine, illegal aliens are being punished.

Punished by either being forced to go back or being forced to pay a fine.

[alnick]

I should've asked your personal feelings on the subject, as opposed to assuming that you supported it.

I'd like to take some time before I come to a position on this. What the president said in his speech makes sense to me. I'd like to hear both sides presented calmly and rationally. I've heard that from the president. I think (hope) that in time cooler heads will prevail and I can hear the other side presented clearly.

[TheBattman]

I have e-mailed both my Republican Senators and my Republican Congressman to this effect. If you pass this trashing of American citizenship, you will erode your base. I will not vote Democrat, but I will simply stay at home and not vote in November.

If you are thinking of staying at home instead of voting - why don't you make yourself heard and go vote for a 3rd party? If you are not going to vote anyway, a vote for a 3rd party won't hurt anything, and if enough people would do that, maybe the main parties would get a clue that a growing segment of voters are unhappy with both....