Posted on 05/08/2006 11:37:38 PM PDT by Marius3188
ORLANDO, Fla. - U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez urged tourism industry leaders Monday to help support legislation that eventually would offer citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.
"This is probably the most important domestic issue of our time," Gutierrez told conferees at the Travel Industry Association's annual Pow Wow meeting, a convention where the U.S. travel industry shows off its offerings to international travel buyers.
Immigration reform can give the United States a competitive advantage by improving the economic dynamism of the country and providing a work force that can support the pensions of retirees, said Gutierrez, who immigrated with his family from Cuba as a 6-year-old boy.
Immigration legislation pending in Congress has triggered large street demonstrations and produced divisions in both political parties.
The U.S. House has passed a bill to make illegal immigrants felons and authorize 700 miles of border walls. Under a Senate bill, immigrants in the U.S. longer than five years could apply for citizenship without leaving the country. Those in the U.S. for more than two years but fewer than five would be required to go to a border point of entry, but they could return quickly as legal temporary workers.
The temporary worker program supported by President Bush "provides a sensible, legal way to match willing foreign workers with willing American employers who cannot find Americans to do the job," Gutierrez said. "What I've just described is not automatic citizenship but offers a legal way for them to come out of the shadows."
The Travel Industry Association didn't plan to take a position on immigration legislation but was relying on the hoteliers and restaurateur associations to support the immigration reform, said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the travel organization.
Tourism leaders told conferees that they worried the United States was losing its marketshare in the world tourism market because of a lack of national marketing money, a lengthy tourism visa application process and post-911 security procedures at airports and borders that turn off some visitors.
Delta Airlines CEO Gerald Grinstein said the industry needed new technology that would provide less obtrusive security measures.
"America ... has attracted people from all other countries but now the experience people have when they get to America is 'Get in line. Take your shoes off, take your lap top out, show me your boarding pass,'" Grinstein said. "If we're going to achieve our goal of being a welcoming place, that has to be brought under control."
dear mr. grinstein: precisely where were you when it was time to raise that objection on behalf of american citizens who, unlike your more equal animal foriegn favorites, have constitutionally enshrined rights against such treatment?
"U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez urged tourism industry leaders Monday to help support legislation that eventually would offer citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants."
How about NOT giving citizenship to people who have failed the first test--obeying the law? If you want to expand LEGAL immigration to make it easier for people to come here and become citizens, no problem, but the illegals shouldn't be part of it.
Another indication that GW Bush is NO conservative, never was.
REALLY, something needs to be fixed here folks. Click here to see the WAIT time for BUSINESS people in Mexico City to get a visa. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait_result.php?post=Mexico+City&x=60&y=17
I know 2 multi millionaires, who took their play money and spent it in France, Argentina, some prefer Venezuela and Cuba, but that 'aire' in the affluent world is take your cash and play somewhere else. I think America is missing their opportunity to have positive influence upon people who influence others in this country here in Mexico. $15 just to get an appointment, and $100 for an interview, about 60% of those refuse. YOU are trying to keep out the WRONG Class of people...
The travel business or any business that advocates making 20 million invaders legal can go to h*ll! Yesterday and today we are told on local news the over population here in the DFW area is causing a WATER SHORTAGE!
WATER SHORTAGE because of the overcrowding illegal alien invaders!
That's where this ends and now! Coming soon to a city near you. Our families will have to suffer because a group of greedy businesses want illegals? I don't think so!
Maybe you open border trolls want your families to be without water but we anti-invaders will not accept this massive invasion. DEPORT THEM NOW!! NO AMNESTY!! NO JOBS!!!
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kovach/060418
"The wimp factor
There are actually some people within America that will attempt to say that such a concept is "unfair," or that it is "too harsh". As was reported by the Center for Immigration Studies, Mexico is harsh with those that enter Mexico illegally. And, even some within the Mexican government admit blame for the hordes that enter the United States from that country. Despite these facts, and despite the fact that non-citizens have no "right" to demand a free ride in America, Senator Ted Kennedy and other Leftists kowtowed to illegal immigrants by saying, "The American people have spoken." Actually, Senator Kennedy, the American people will speak on Election Day. Hopefully, they will say, "You're fired!" (I'm hoping that the voters of middle Tennessee will say the same thing to my opponent, Jim Cooper, who voted against the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act.) And, if necessary, the American people will speak along the borders. If they do, they might just say, "Open fire!"
That is BS, that is what everyone is under the FALSE impression, that the illegal invaders are getting $3 per hour wages, funny thing they aren't! They are getting wages of $15 to $17 per hour for some jobs!
AND they have socialist groups that are suing for their "rights" for good wages and good working conditions.
Do people know it's virtually impossible for folks from western civilized nations to get into this country? It was not lost on this man (with entrepeneurial business skills) and his wife that unskilled-Vincente Fox-rejects are pouring unchallenged across our border in hordes. And getting paid for it, to boot....with welfare and other benefits too numerous to list.
It sticks with me that this English gent's words at the end of our conversation on this subject were (with a shake of the head), ".....and we're one of your country's best friends........"
Leni
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.