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"And if we can make them go home if they don't get a renewal of their blue card, THEN WHY CAN'T WE JUST MAKE THEM GO HOME NOW? Why would we suddenly be able to do something, we not only claim we can't do now, but use as the basis for this policy: "we can't deport them all."

Because right now we don't know where all 8 million live and work, as well as due to the fact that it would take an enormous logistical effort to forceably round up all 8 million illegals.

On the other hand, *after* Bush's new immigration plan passes, illegals will *volunteer* to register for their new blue cards. Once registered, we will then *know* where they live and who they work for...simplifying our enforcement.

Moreover, most of those aliens will choose to return to their homes after 3 years rather than risk losing all that they've worked for while in Bush's program. That accomplishes our goal of convincing them to deport themselves, and it further simplifies the remaining scope of our enforcement problem because there will be fewer of them left to deal with.

I don't want to reject the President's proposal out of hand, but I think you are really viewing it through rose-colored glasses.

We won't necessarily know where they are working if they change jobs. And if they work for someone illegally after their 3-year visa has expired, we won't have any idea where they are.

Regarding the need to apply for the visa renewal abroad--what is your source for the contention that they have to go back home to renew it? Here is what the fact sheet on the President's proposal says:

The program will require the return of temporary workers to their home country after their period of work has concluded. The legal status granted by this program would last three years, be renewable, and would have an end.

That says only that they have to go home at the end of their "period of work". It does not say they have to go home in order renew. It is somewhat ambiguous but it is more reasonable to conclude that they only have to leave when their total time here is done.

I don't see ALL the illegal aliens signing up for this program because there are perks for them to remain off the grid.

1. Taxes and payroll deductions coming out of their pay may result in less money for the jobs they do now or less money than a job they can do off the books.

2. They all work now for people that are not going to add the overhead of legitimate operation. (If this weren't a problem, then why aren't they operating legitimately now?) If new guest workers become legitimate, they will lose the "illegal" jobs they have now. And make less money to send home.

3. Do you think that new guest workers will give an accurate address if they have a nefarious purpose for being here? Or for that matter, will they always have the same address they first give the government? Don't people come into this country now with Visas that expire and are nowhere to be found at their address on record?

This does very little for the illegals here, but it does enable MORE people to come here who aren't here now and I have no confidence we can find them once they come here if they do not want to be found. We can't even find them now. The ones that don't want to be found are the danger. So this is a security risk we shouldn't be taking. It allows potential terrorists to come here under the guise of legitimacy for three years, and then disappear once there is no answer at the 123 Elms street address we have on file.

What makes you say these people will return home after three years? Because the situation in Mexico has improved? LOL. They can stay here illegally, work a black labor market job, make more money.