The Republicans Proposing Immigration Reform (Amnesty)

Chronwatch ^ | July 9th, 2003 | Leo Lacayo

[Sabertooth]

 

        The first step in a major crusade to resolve the problem of undocumented workers was taken today by Senator John Cornyn.  The most significant part of the program is that Senator Cornyn is a Republican representing Texas, and is a close ally of President Bush.

 

        The legislature he is proposing has enough votes on both sides of the aisle to pass easily and will enhance the stature of the Republican Party with small business, big business, the unions and the Hispanic vote.  But most important, it will pave the way for better Homeland Security and more effective government.  The legislature is all ''shock-and-awe'' on a domestic level, as it sweeps away the inept and out dated practices of the past with modern working tools to help the economy.

 

      It is impressive how the President has led this country, and how the Republicans have taken issue after issue away from the failed Democratic leadership.  Now, as our security requires we will be able to separate the good aliens from the bad ones.  America has always been a country to welcome from all nations the workers, the contributors, the givers, the builders, and the illegitimate processes of the past have served only to help exploit people.   Now Senator Cornyn is advancing a plan that will bring hard-working immigrants into the light and onto our tax rolls, and remove the incentives for human smuggling.

 

THE PROPOSAL

 

      Homeland Security and State would develop a guest worker program.  It is to be noted that said program would not lead to permanent residency or citizenship but would address the realities of our flawed immigration system.  It is not an amnesty program although an immigrants already in the U.S. can apply with their employers for guest worker status within the first year of the program's enactment.

 

      For too long we have turned a blind eye from the reality of over 10 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.   Homeland Security needs to be able to account for these millions, their whereabouts, and intent, and the proposal contains mega measures to deal with those who flout the law.

 

      Senator Cornyn stated: ''This problem is even more urgent in a  post 9-11 world, yet our system is still entrenched in the inadequate policies of the past and must be brought into the 21st Century.  My plan acknowledges that millions of undocumented men and women go to work everyday in America in violation of our immigration law, outside the protection of our labor law, and without any way of our government knowing who, or where they are.  This program would allow us to account for immigrants who are no threat to America, and distinguish them from those who are.  Our homeland security needs demand that we account for the millions of unknown immigrants living within our borders.''

 

      The plan would cover the workers and their families.  It will help prevent tragic smugglings and the dangers that immigrants are exposed to by people who place little or no value on their lives.  The bill will be introduced later this month.

 

      Republicans are taking charge and making things happen in an effective, innovative way.

 

      The San Francisco Hispanic Republican Assembly proudly supports Senator John Cornyn and calls on all Americans to recognize the principled approach to true immigration reform.

[Sabertooth]

July and August are typically slow news months, so I guess this is an opportune time to flout the desires of the American people.

[Sabertooth]

((((((growl)))))

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[Sabertooth]

Immigrant bill already has its share of foes

Cornyn's plan, still in the works, irks guest-worker advocates, opponents alike

By Chuck Lindell

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, July 7, 2003

WASHINGTON -- In the next two weeks, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn plans to unveil an immigration bill that seeks to split the difference between pro- and anti-immigrant sentiment -- a difficult task on such a volatile issue.

Merely speaking about his intentions on the Senate floor brought the Texas Republican a flurry of phone calls that is sure to be repeated, and likely surpassed, when details emerge on his plan to help millions of undocumented immigrants legally live in the United States as "guest workers."

"We've seen people who come across and risk their very lives -- and lose their lives, some of them -- just for the opportunity to work and provide for their families," Cornyn said in an interview.

There also is a national security factor, he said.

"We must establish better border security, and we're on our way toward doing that, so we know who is coming into our country and why. But we are not doing anything to learn about the people who are already here," Cornyn said.

The bill is still being written and polished, but some details have begun to gel.

Basically, Cornyn's plan would let undocumented immigrants obtain a guest-worker "blue card" that would be renewed annually and allow unlimited border crossings for up to three years. Agricultural workers could stay for shorter periods, perhaps nine months out of the year.

"We would not limit the countries it applies to, but it's only to be expected that a large portion would be from Mexico and Central America," Cornyn said.

Employers will be given time, probably one year, to bring illegal workers into compliance or face "meaningful" fines. Workers seeking to enter the country legally must be matched with an employer when they apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate, Cornyn said. Once in the United States, however, workers would be allowed to switch jobs to avoid binding ties to unscrupulous employers.

Hispanic groups and pro-immigration forces are focusing on what is not in the bill: earned citizenship for the estimated 6 million to 10 million people living and working illegally in the United States.

"There is no amnesty or guaranteed path to citizenship," Cornyn said, but he added that "faithful service under the law should be considered in subsequent applications for naturalization."

Still, the exclusion will be a major sticking point.

"We've maintained consistently that the only type of acceptable guest-worker program would provide an avenue for some folks to achieve legal status," said Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Even the National Council of La Raza, which praises Cornyn for recognizing the vital economic role immigrants play and for reviving debate about immigration reform, faults the approach.

"We know a lot of people want to work here for a short time and go back to their country," said Michele Waslin, senior immigration policy analyst for La Raza. "But for people who choose to make America their permanent home, those people should be able to do so."

Political realities will test Cornyn as well.

"For Democrats to support it, they need some kind of amnesty in the end. They'll take the bitter pill of a guest worker if they get what they want," said Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that favors stronger enforcement of immigration laws instead of amnesty or guest-worker programs.

"The Republicans are divided, which makes it more complicated. Some might give in on amnesty, but the problem is neither side seems able to support what the other side wants," Camarota said.

Cornyn also should worry about the administrative burden he is imposing on already stretched immigration agencies, Camarota said. On this point he has agreement from several pro-immigration groups that complain about processing delays, lost data and other inefficiencies.

The immigration service "is the most broken bureaucracy in the history of mankind," said Katherine Culliton, immigrants rights attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Immigration officials "can't handle the workload they already have," Camarota said. "And now we're going to ask them to process 4 million to 6 million new guest-worker applications? So what they are going to do is just rubber-stamp them. It's absurd. Quite frankly, it's dangerous. Having an illegal alien terrorist in our country is bad. Having a terrorist with legal status is much worse."

Cornyn said the United States has little choice in pursuing his program.

"This is a problem we can't ignore. We've asked the immigration service and Border Patrol to do a better job. To me, this is another piece of that same project, and it goes hand in hand with advanced border security," he said.

Cornyn also can expect opposition to his plan to deduct Social Security and Medicare taxes from guest-worker paychecks. The money would be repaid when the workers return home as an added incentive to leave.

Money has disappeared from similar programs in the past, said LULAC's Wilkes. "We definitely don't want to see a repeat of that. They ought to read the history to see how bad that idea is."

clindell@statesman.com; (202) 887-8329
Austin American-Statesman
July 7th, 2003

[Tacis]

What barbra streisand!!! This "proposal" does nothing more that build another complex governmental bureaucracy that will NEVER be funded adequately to do the job!

Mere mention of the word "amnesty" sends thousands north; if there is one amnesty, there'll be another.

We must have adequate resources to apprehend illegal aliens in this country and return them to Mexico!!! Any condition on this simply provides more opportunities for bribes and dishonesty ("Yes, I am Juan Gonzalez and I have been here since 1972" and, then, think of the movie where they all stand up and say, "I am Spatacus").

Through employers? Cronyn can't be that stupid. It is the avoidance of employment detail that makes Mexicans more desireable than blacks.

Every weyback must register we the federal government just as soon as national security can get all the employees, software and resources in place. After a date, anyone without proper ID or false ID will be deported. No appeals to tie up the sysytem for years. SEAL THE FRIGGIN BORDER, TOM!!!

[Owl_Eagle]

The Republicans Proposing Immigration Reform (Amnesty)

 

It is not an amnesty program although an immigrants already in the U.S. can apply with their employers for guest worker status within the first year of the program's enactment.

???

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Brian S]

Why, this ought to make the President rightly proud, being initiated by a good "GOP" senator from the great state of Texas...

Excuse me while I puke on my latest solicitation from the Republican National Committee.

To bad "postage paid" enevelopes tend to leak.

[doc]

"able to separate the good aliens from the bad ones". HUH! Coming into our country illegally is a felony. Republicans have lost their minds. Take a look at California, we are sinking because of the drain illegal immigration has placed on our system. Some of the hispanic California legislators have been quoted as stating that the state belongs to Mexico. I believe it was Art Torres who said Prop 187 was the "last gasp for the white man". Comments of this nature in reverse would get a caucasian fired.

[The Dude Abides]

The article makes a good point in noting that our economic system does depend on cheap mobile labor. I would rather offer guest worker visas (and enforce the program) than pay 3 dollars a head for lettuce. Regardless, ignoring illegals is something we must stop doing. They should be made legal or put in jail - then sent home.

[traditionalist]

The article makes a good point in noting that our economic system does depend on cheap mobile labor. I would rather offer guest worker visas (and enforce the program) than pay 3 dollars a head for lettuce.

Nonsense. Modern agriculture is so highly mechanized that labor costs constitute a tiny fraction of the retail price of produce. Even if you double the wages of agricultural workers you will only raise prices by a few cents.

[SAMWolf]

The Republicans pass this one and I sit out the next election because there's no reason to vote for them over the Dems anymore.

[Scenic Sounds]

You don't want to miss this one. ;-)

[The Dude Abides]

Most agriculture yes, but I have yet to see machines that pick strawberries, lettuce, garlic and onions. Not to mention the non-agriculture infusion of illegals. Dry-wallers, bricklayers, and so on. Because we have been so lax at enforcing immigration laws, generations of these illegals have indeed become integral to our economy. I hate to admit it, but we can't be ostriches about this any longer. That said, I supported prop 187 back in the day. If these guys want the benefits of our system, they should pay taxes (as should their employer). We have to move away from a cash-based underground economy.

[ProudEagle]

Bush/Republicans?? This gentleman is turning out to be nothing but a carbom copy of 1964 Jack Kennedy.

[Xenalyte]

"We've maintained consistently that the only type of acceptable guest-worker program would provide an avenue for some folks to achieve legal status," said Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Wow, am I ever stupid. I thought we already HAD an avenue for "some folks" to get legal. Good thing that's cleared up.

[Kuksool]

Last year, I donated $200 to Cornyn's Senate campaign, because I wanted a GOP-controlled Senate. As of right now, I am feeling like a dissatisfied customer.

[Tauzero]

"My plan acknowledges that millions of undocumented men and women go to work everyday in America in violation of our immigration law, outside the protection of our labor law, and without any way of our government knowing who, or where they are."

Bringinf them under our labor laws could be a way to reduce the employment of illegals. :/

But I don't see why any illegal would go for this offer.

Current situation:

Employed illegal takes home more pay by claiming witholding exemption / a million dependents.

Employer of illegals pays less labor costs and worries less about suits brought under government labor law.

Neither gains much under this proposal, so compliance will not be voluntary and a very big stick will be needed to enforce it. But enforcing is something we've proven unwilling to do. Thus the demand for a path to permanent residence or citizenship. In the absence of enforcement that'd probably be the only way to get voluntary compliance.

[Tauzero]

"This gentleman is turning out to be nothing but a carbom copy of 1964 Jack Kennedy."

Except Kennedy cut taxes more.

[Sabertooth]

Last year, I donated $200 to Cornyn's Senate campaign, because I wanted a GOP-controlled Senate. As of right now, I am feeling like a dissatisfied customer.

Tell him.

[Sabertooth]

Wow, am I ever stupid. I thought we already HAD an avenue for "some folks" to get legal. Good thing that's cleared up.

The racist assumption underlying efforts to grant guest worker status to Illegals is that it's unreasonable to expect foreign-born Latin Americans to follow the legal channels already established.

There is always a strong element of self-congratulatory condescension behind any institutionalized governmental compassion.

[twstearman]

You won't be the only one withholding the vote. More and more, I am starting to have some serious doubts about things.

We must bite the bullet now and seal the borders, while they are still drawn on a map!

[texastoo]

I doubt Senator Cornyn will tie health insurance to the employers. If he did this, I might believe he is interested in solving the problem.

No where in this article does it mention the burden the illegals are placing on the American taxpayers via welfare and social services.

[SAMWolf]

By the domestic policy being passed you'd think the Democrats still held the Congress and the Presidency.

You ever feel there was nowhere to turn to anymore?

[twstearman]

Only every other hour :(

[Sabertooth]

The Republicans pass this one and I sit out the next election because there's no reason to vote for them over the Dems anymore.

If Bush and the GOP goes for any "normalization" of Illegals, they'll be playing electoral Russian roulette next year.

It doesn't look like the bipartisan malfeasance on this issue will be swept under the rug much longer. Arizona will have a Proposition #187 style referendum in the Spring primary, and there is a Million American March scheduled for September 4th, 2004 in Washington DC.

[Chi-Town Lady]

I just received this from NUMBERSUSA.Com. If you are not registered there PLEASE do so and fax your representatives. Let them know you support the CLEAR Act of 2003!

On Wednesday, July 9th, Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA), along with Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL), Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), and Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA), introduced the CLEAR Act of 2003.

This is a very exciting milestone for those who support interior enforcement and oppose illegal immigration.

This bipartisan legislation will address the criminal alien crisis in this country by expanding state and local law enforcement's authority to enforce immigration law.

The CLEAR Act of 2003 would bring our 700,000 state and local law officers on the beat with respect to immigration crimes and allow local law enforcement officials to detain and process illegal aliens.

Among the important provisions of the CLEAR Act are: training of local officers in immigration law enforcement; increased information sharing regarding violators of immigration law among various law enforcement agencies; and additional resources to local law enforcement and Homeland Security.

The CLEAR Act would increase homeland security, increase the chances of an illegal alien getting caught, and help protect public safety at all levels.

Because the CLEAR Act would do so much to deter illegal immigration and increase interior enforcement, a major push is underway to recruit additional cosponsors. Please send this fax to Representative(s) from your state asking them to cosponsor the CLEAR Act of 2003.

[Righty1]

This program will be expanded to include amnesty once the dems re-emerge. Our Raza is almost finished here. We had better identify defensible space like Australia and arm it to the teeth or we are going the way of South Africa! Wait until the muslims start mass converting the aggrieved mexicans who seem far more likely to blame us than the oligarchy of complete racists who really screw them.

[janetgreen]

Stealth amnesty, another insult to America via GWB. He lost me a long time ago.

[texastoo]

Ask him, Cornyn,to state the definition of "families".. Does it mean wife, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, step-children, step-brother, step-sisters. Shouldn't the employer have to pay for their health care?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

More good news is what South Carolina is doing, which is basically the same thing as the The CLEAR Act. So some states are saying enough finally.

[judgeandjury]

I would rather offer guest worker visas (and enforce the program) than pay 3 dollars a head for lettuce.

Even if we implemented a guest worker program, illegal aliens would continue to cross over our southern border. Also, it's a myth that getting rid of cheap illegal alien labor will cause the retail cost of fruits and vegetables to skyrocket. Yes, the prices would increase somewhat, but not by an extraordinary amount.

[Marine Inspector]

It is not an amnesty program although an immigrants already in the U.S. can apply with their employers for guest worker status within the first year of the program's enactment.

It is if you reward them for breaking the law.

[Marine Inspector]

I would rather offer guest worker visas (and enforce the program) than pay 3 dollars a head for lettuce.

It's a myth. Removing the illegals would never raise the price of lettuce to 3 bucks a head.

[Joe Hadenuf]

For cripes sakes, more moronic ideas coming out of Texas. From Republican's no less! Of course, I am not surprised.

[bandleader]

This isn't"Reform",it's The Suspension of Law and Order!!

[jpsb]

Sometime I just hate the GOP.

I live in a poor small town in Texas, there are zero jobs of the poor whites? Why? The illegals are doing ALL of them. The Bush GOP is going to ruin us.

[ought-six]

"Our Raza is almost finished here. We had better identify defensible space like Australia and arm it to the teeth or we are going the way of South Africa!"

I will not run. I will stay and fight for my hearth and home. I was born here. I have ancestors buried here going back some 180 years. As God is my witness, as long as I draw a breath I will not surrender to these invaders and their enablers in the government, academia, and the media. Call me idealistic and a fool; naive and off-the-wall: I don't care. But I am an American, as Americans were intended to be by our Founders, and I will NOT surrender.

[traditionalist]

Most agriculture yes, but I have yet to see machines that pick strawberries, lettuce, garlic and onions.

True, but again, the labor costs of harvesting are tiny compared to the cost of planting, fertilizing and spraying the crop, irrigating the fields, buying the land, transporting the crop, keeping it fresh, etc. All of these activities use very little labor. You could double the wages of farm labor and it would only marginally affect the retail price of food.

Not to mention the non-agriculture infusion of illegals. Dry-wallers, bricklayers, and so on.

Americans have done, and in many cases, still do these things. Our labor markets are the most flexible in the world. If suddenly the supply of such laborers go down, wages will rise until they are high enough to entice enough Americans workers to meet the demand (which will also go down due to the higher wages). Higher wages for such work would increase prices somewhat, but I have yet to see any evidence that this increase would be large or that it would have a large adverse effect on the average consumer.

In fact, I doubt it would have a large impact. Products (other than food) of insutries that use a lot of illegal labor make up a small part of the average American's consumption bundle, and we've already seen how the price of food is largely insensitive to labor costs.

Because we have been so lax at enforcing immigration laws, generations of these illegals have indeed become integral to our economy. I hate to admit it, but we can't be ostriches about this any longer.

Very few industries use much illegal labor. It's limited largely to food processing, agriculture, restraunts & hotels, cleaning, and perhaps some construction. The labor value added from all these industries, except construction, is very low, and I doubt illegals make up a large proportion of construction workers since the latter are highly unionized. That leads me to doubt that the value added from illegals amounts to more than 5% of GDP. I would not call that "integral." If you've seen any scientific studies on illegal immigrant labor value added, I'd be very interested.

[Bigg Red]

undocumented workers


There is that stupid term again. They are ILLEGAL ALIENS and they need to be deported immediately, not rewarded.

[Bigg Red]

The Republicans pass this one and I sit out the next election because there's no reason to vote for them over the Dems anymore.


^^
Same here.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Republicans have lost their minds.

With them and the democrats, it's like a two lane road, both lanes going the same direction.

[Digger]

The problem here is that one is programed to vote either (D) or (R). These are virtually the same. Throw a couple more viable parties into the mix & you would here these republicrates loudly whinning. Then when their individual power is taken away (as the party cannot control them anymore) you would see a real change. However, if you keep voting in this "Two-Party Cartel" you will always be the loser.

[Digger]

Excuse ( not individual power but rather collective power)

[Joe Hadenuf]

That's why some of these party boys here do the chicken when another party is mentioned...They come out of the woodwork, with the same squak, "well who are you going to vote for Hillary?" Or "it's the better of two evils" worn out garbage babble.

[american spirit]

I think a better characterization is "domestic enemies".

[jimt]

No where in this article does it mention the burden the illegals are placing on the American taxpayers via welfare and social services.

Bingo ! We have a winner !

[moehoward]

"It's a myth. Removing the illegals would never raise the price of lettuce to 3 bucks a head."

It's almost $3.00 now WITH Illegals picking it.

Houses built with Illegal labor aren't any cheaper. Meat butchered by Illegal labor isn't cheaper. Just where does this slave labor save consumers money?

[Pa' fuera]

I understood that if someone enters the US as an illegal, that person is subject to a ban and cannot become legalized within a certain number of years. So any program which gives them legal status and repeals the ban is by definition an amnesty.

[Marine Inspector]

Just where does this slave labor save consumers money?

It doesn't save the consumer money; it's all about profit for the business owner.

[Pa' fuera]

The immigration service "is the most broken bureaucracy in the history of mankind," said Katherine Culliton, immigrants rights attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Exactly, and there should be a moratorium on all Mexican immigration and visa processing until the immigration service can get its case load to a manageable level.