Posted on 11/29/2005 7:21:12 PM PST by 11th_VA
PRESIDENT George Bush has proposed offering the estimated 13 million illegal immigrants in the US three-year guest-worker visas.
Mr Bush said his plan did not amount to an amnesty for illegal migrants, almost 1 million of whom are estimated to enter the US from Mexico each year.
In a speech in Tucson, Arizona, near the Mexican border, he said illegal immigration was "a serious challenge and our responsibility is clear — to protect the border.
"The American people should not have to choose between a welcoming society and a lawful society," he said. "We can have both at the same time."
Under the proposal, the visas could be renewed for another three years if the migrants returned to their country of origin to apply.
Mr Bush announced his visa plan after saying that his Administration would beef up security along the 3200-kilometre border with Mexico and introduce the automatic detention of non-Mexican illegal immigrants, most of them from Central America, who in the past have been picked up, charged with immigration offences and then set free.
"When the date arrives for them to appear, 75 per cent of those released don't show up in court," he said.
"This practice of catch and release has been the government's policy for decades. It is an unwise policy and we're going to end it."
The Republican Party is divided over the issue of illegal migrants.
The vast majority of illegal immigrants enter the US from Mexico with the help of organised rings or family members and friends already in America. Hundreds die each year attempting the crossing from Mexico into Arizona, many of them from the harsh conditions in the desert.
The business wing of the Republican Party has lobbied hard for another amnesty on illegal immigrants, arguing that the economy would be badly damaged if there were a serious attempt to send back to Mexico millions of people who are prepared to do the jobs that Americans are not willing to do.
The illegal immigrants form the majority of America's 2 million farm workers and a significant proportion of construction labourers and service industry workers. They are mainly paid just above the minimum wage and generally do not receive health care or pension benefits. The US offered illegal migrants an amnesty in 1986 during the Reagan administration, when 3 million applied.
But the numbers arriving over the past decade have grown, leaving many Americans alarmed.
Polls have consistently shown that more than 65 per cent of Americans, most of them Republican voters, view illegal immigration as a top-ranking issue and a danger to US security.
With polls showing his support at a record low, Mr Bush has shifted ground on immigration since a key speech in January in which he said illegal immigrants were of fundamental importance to the US economy and deserved the chance to try to better themselves and their families and to become Americans.
The US Congress has spent much of this year battling to come up with an immigration bill that would receive majority support, but congressional leaders announced in October that the immigration debate would be adjourned until early next year.
Most conservative Republicans, especially in border states such as Arizona and Texas, are likely to reject Mr Bush's work visa proposal for illegal immigrants, which many see as a back-door amnesty.
Texas senator Kay Bailey, who represents the views of many Republicans in Congress, said illegal immigrants should be sent home before they could apply for guest-worker visas.
"We have to reward people who come legally and we do need certain types of workers," she said. "But we have to know who is in this country."
Rewarding criminals who are in this country illegally sends a very wrong message. This proposal is an affront to foreign nationals who have applied to enter the United States or those who are waiting to do so legally.
Apparently .. you don't even do that
P.S. Is that a parrot on his arm? Hmmmm
Possibly. If that is what is worrying Bush then why hasn't he asked for federal legislation? He hasn't been shy about asking for other things.
So you are saying that illegal immigration is down under Bush?
Give them visas - then tax the $hit out of them.
You didn't listen to what he said yesterday, did you?
Your defense of willful law breakers is duly noted.
He asked for federal legislation to build a fence yesterday?
No .. what I am saying is that you haven't listen to a dang thing he said or has done
I made no such claim ... so blew it out your ear
Did you listen to his speech yestrday??
We don't want them on the record. As soon as they are documented the Democrats and the MSM will campaign relentlessly to give them Government freebies and a ballot.
If illegal immigration has worsened under his watch, then what is there to be happy about? He has had 5 years to do something about it and he hasn't done a thing that has been effective.
Let's be honest here - Bush doesn't want illegal immigration to stop. That is why he keeps repeating that crap about "Mexicans only doing jobs that Americans won't do". That is also why he calls the Minutemen "vigilantes".
If he has done so much, then why is immigration worse under his watch? Maybe because he actually encourages it?
No,Bush is enticing more illegals to come over again, he is not listening to US. We hear every word that comes out of both sides of his mouth. Its an amnesty plain and simple they get to stay three years, go home then come back for three more, sounds like a reward for lawbreaking to me.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1433018/posts
I can see the lawsuits now, lining up for this very purpose
I didn't hear him ask for federal legislation to build a fence. (He doesn't need it anyway.) Why did you infer that he did?
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