President Bush Proposes New Temporary Worker Program [Transcript]

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

[CalKat]

The program will offer legal status to the millions who are here illegally, but they will have to pay a fee. Bush specifically calls it a fee, not a fine. I don't think it's unreasonable to require the illegal aliens to complete some paperwork and pay a fee to receive their amnesty.

[NittanyLion]

Not really... If they go home, they get the reward of the FREE blue card. That's an incentive to "deport" themselves.

We'll wait and see, but I suspect that contention is nonsense.

[NonValueAdded]

That might be one of the reasons behind the strategerie of tackling this now. The more this is thrashed out in the forum of public opinion, the less of a nebulous campaign issue it will be.

[george wythe]

These illegal immigrants are being granted amnesty by virtue of the fact that they will not be prosecuted or deported for the crime of entering this country illegally.

That's your interpretation.

The illegal alien will have to pay a fine or fee to obtain a blue card, while the alien abroad can obtain the blue card for free.

The illegal alien has to make a choice of whether to return to his country and obtain the blue card for free, or whether to apply in the US and pay the fine.

Furthermore, the blue card does not lead to US citizenship. Period.

The amnesty given by President Reagan lead to million of new US citizens.

[CalKat]

I don't think most voters equated a guest worker program with granting amnesty to the millions of illegal aliens already here. I think's that's where the feeling of betrayal may be coming from.

[McGavin999]

This is amnesty in the traditional sense of the word. Millions of current illegals will be granted pardon and allowed to remain. Their previously illegal behavior has been rewarded by this program.

You either didn't read the speech above or you didn't understand what you read. Amnesty is a pardon granted to anyone who applies. This is a guest worker program good for 3 years and then you have to return home. You do not get to automatically apply for citizenship and if you want to apply, you have to go to the back of the line. If you want to stay here and apply for the permit you must pay a fee and you MUST be employed. If you are not employed, you go home. See the difference?

[CalKat]

Amnesty does not requre citizenship.

[FrontlinesofFreedom]

CAN ANYONE SAY 3RD PARTY CANDIDATE!!!!!!!

[NittanyLion]

Amnesty is a governmental pardon to a group of people who have broken the law. That's exactly what this is, unless you go to extremes to twist the meaning of amnesty (as you appear to be doing here).

[McGavin999]

McCain explained that part of the program on the radio last night. You must advertise the job (in the paper or internet) and if ANY American applies you can not give the job to a guest worker.

[King Black Robe]

They don't care about being called a citizen as long as they get every benefit. This is such a dishonest position. It's just like the domestic partner vs. marriage thing. Other than the label, it's the same thing.

[McGavin999]

No, in past Amnesty programs you applied for it, got it, and got to stay forever. Here you do not. If you apply for a guest worker program from your home country and you optain a job you get issued the permit at no charge. If you are here and apply for the program you must have a job and you must pay a fee. AND at the end of the 3 year period you must return to your home country. BIG DIFFERENCE

[King Black Robe]

Amnesty: an act granting a pardon to a group of individuals.

How is this different from amnesty? What price are they paying for their illegal activity? What motive will others have to not do exactly the same thing?

[McGavin999]

3 years and then you have to go home.

[Bethbg79]

Ping!

[CalKat]

This is not different from amnesty. It is amnesty, and calling it something else does not make it something other than amnesty. Sheesh.

[McGavin999]

The price they are paying is the fee they must post. The people who apply from their home country do not pay the fee. You must remain employed. If you lose your job, you must go home. The employers will be responsible for reporting if you have been dismissed. If they don't THEY will pay a BIG FINE.

[george wythe]

Amnesty does not requre citizenship.

I agree that we can argue semantics until the cows come home. I was just clarifying the difference between President Bush's proposal and President Reagan's amnesty.

President Bush proposes a guest-worker program. Illegal aliens will have to pay an additional fee (fine) to qualify as a temporary worker, unless they return to their countries and obtain the blue cards for free.

Many Mexicans living in border states might go back to Mexico and apply in Mexico to obtain their blue cards.

The amnesty given by President Reagan included the ability to apply for a green card. Possession of the green card leads to citizenship after 5 years.

The blue card will never lead to US citizenship.

[alnick]

Now we have the chance to lobby Congress to shape the legislation as close to our wishes as possible.

Wise words. You're the first person I've seen who has made this point. Most of what I've read has been hysterical posts about life as we know it coming to an end.

[King Black Robe]

3 years and then you have to go home. Uh huh! That's the part I love the most. What? Then we will get really REALLY serious about enforcing our laws? Puh-lease. These people have been supposed to go home for years. Do you really believe they will go home after 3 years? Do you really believe we will do anything about it if they don't? This is all a joke.