Posted on 10/19/2005 6:32:26 PM PDT by blam
'Soft' Bush vows to expel all illegal migrants
By Francis Harris in Washington
(Filed: 20/10/2005)
President George W Bush has promised to expel millions of illegal immigrants as part of a major new initiative to end fierce criticism from fellow Republicans that he is too soft on border security.
Mr Bush told senior congressmen and intelligence officers in the White House: "Our goal is clear: to return every single illegal entrant, with no exceptions." His words amounted to the toughest pledge on immigration from the Bush administration to date.
Mr Bush: 'You got people sneaking into our country'
Officials estimate that there are now 11 million illegal migrants in the country, most of them Spanish speakers from Mexico and other parts of Central and South America. They now outnumber legal migrants.
The president noted that "several million" migrants had been expelled since America began raising security on its southern border after the September 11 attacks.
But he pledged to do much more, acknowledging that the 2,000-mile border with Mexico was still too porous and that US border agents were seriously overstretched.
In further recognition of the fury felt by many Republicans, he signed into law an Act making available large amounts of additional federal funds to bolster immigration defences. The new Homeland Security Spending Act provides a further $1.8 billion (£1 billion) to provide 1,000 border patrol officers to add to the extra 1,900 hired in the past four years. Hundreds of additional agents will be taken on to track down illegal migrants who reach the American interior.
The funds will also pay for unmanned patrol aircraft, ground sensors and infrared cameras, as well as a new stretch of border fencing.
But while Mr Bush used tough language on enforcement, he again asked Congress to back his stalled plans to legalise the status of many of the migrants.
This would give large numbers of temporary visas to Hispanic workers, allowing them to stay in the US while filling gaping holes in the booming labour market.
"Enforcement cannot work unless it is part of a larger, comprehensive immigration reform programme," Mr Bush said. "If an employer has a job that no American is willing to take, we need to find a way to fill that demand."
Using language that turns off many Republicans and would surprise those Europeans who see Mr Bush as an instinctive Right-winger, he said: "You see, you got people sneaking into our country to work. They want to provide for their families. Family values do not stop at the Rio Grande river. People are coming to put food on the table."
Decriminalising the process would ease the crush and allow law enforcement officers to concentrate on the real issues, Mr Bush said.
"The fewer people trying to sneak in to work means it's more likely we're going to catch drug smugglers and terrorists and gun runners."
The government proposes to expand holding centres for migrants apprehended on the border to end the current "catch and release" scheme.
That has meant, for example, that although 160,000 non-Mexican illegal migrants were caught last year only 30,000 were expelled. The rest were handed a slip telling them to appear in court, but rarely did so.
For the 900,000 Mexicans caught each year, who until now have simply been dumped just over the border, which allows them to try again immediately, many will be bused or flown back to their home towns which can be hundreds of miles away.
Bullshit. Who's going to pay? How will you know where they came from?
Bullshit. Who's going to pay? How will you know where they came from?
Heck that title might as well be some FReepers views as well, mine included. He has been "soft" on illegal immigration.
Jorge Bush wants to talk tough and give amnesty.
It is as disingenuous as anything Clinton ever did.
Kindly refrain from vulgarity to make your point. By the way, what was your point?
Sent Chertoff an email including a time and address where a group of illegal aliens will be doing yard work. I can see this from my house.
Bush really has failed this country on this issue. What he is doing is just stroking what is left of his conservative base. Nothing of any consequence will happen -- it is the last thing he wants. What a crock of BS.
It is as disingenuous as anything Clinton ever did.
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When you go back and "replay" all of his campaign promises, including fixing the illegal situation (whatever that really meant -- now we know) he has turned out to be VERY DISINGENUOUS.
I will believe it when the Mexican border is militarized.
Those must be the "several millions" whose trip was temporarily delayed after a chance encounter with the Border Patrol.
[Bush] said: "You see, you got people sneaking into our country to work. They want to provide for their families. Family values do not stop at the Rio Grande river. People are coming to put food on the table."
I see George is still playing that same ol' broken record.
Bush is wearing a suit made to exact NEOCON measurements. Maybe Wolfowitz made it for him.
"Our goal is clear: to return every single illegal entrant, with no exceptions."
Very Clintonian sunce this could mean all future illegal entrants while those here already are legalized.
AMEN!
We cannot allow market forces to raise the wages.
"illegal entrant"
Entrant? Something fishy about the use of that word.
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