That will never happen.
Posted on 08/27/2005 10:23:56 AM PDT by GOPGuide
PHOENIX - Struggling to pacify his party's warring wings, President Bush is moving toward allowing illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before February 2004 to qualify for guest-worker visas. People smuggled in after then would be deported.
State leaders in Arizona and New Mexico have stepped up pressure on the Bush administration and the Republican-led Congress to better police U.S. borders and deal with an estimated 10 million people who are living illegally in this country.
"They're trying to split the baby," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said of the White House plan, "and I don't think they can do that."
Bush and his advisers are caught between their supporters in the business sector, who believe the economy needs those workers, and conservatives whose priority is to clamp down on illegal immigration. The White House hopes to have a detailed proposal to Congress in late September or early October.
McCain, who ran against Bush for the 2000 GOP nomination and may seek the White House in 2008, is sponsoring a bill with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., that would create 400,000 three-year visas for guest workers. The legislation has the flexibility to add more in the future and would let undocumented workers stay in the U.S. while they apply.
A competing plan by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., would create two-year visas and require that guest workers and illegal immigrants leave the U.S. before they can apply for the chance to work legally in the country.
Conservative House Republicans tend to favor Kyl's tougher approach. McCain mocks it.
"Turn yourself in so we can send you back to Mexico," said McCain, throwing his head back in laughter during an interview at his Arizona office last week. "It's not going to happen."
The White House seems to agree with McCain.
According to administration and congressional officials who took part in a series of White House meetings this summer, Bush does not favor requiring illegal immigrants to be sent home to apply for the visas.
In a nod to his conservative base, however, the president has rejected a part of the McCain-Kennedy bill that the White House believes would put illegal immigrants on an automatic track to citizenship, the officials said.
The officials said it was unclear how many illegal immigrants came after February 2004 or how many later had children in the U.S., conferring U.S. citizenship on those babies. The White House wants to avoid a surge of illegal immigrants who would try to beat a prospective deadline, they said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House has not authorized them to discuss the policy, which is subject to change.
All sides agree that illegal immigration has become a national security, humanitarian and economic crisis:
_Intelligence agencies fear terrorists could slip into the U.S. through Mexico.
_Hundreds of illegal immigrants die each year while trying to enter the U.S. Those who make it often fall prey to criminals and opportunists.
_From construction companies in Arizona to farmers in the Midwest and California, many industries need those cheap and available workers.
"Just stop at one of these construction sites and look and see who those workers are. They're all Hispanic," McCain said. "And I bet you they're illegal."
Depending on how Hispanics react, this fall's immigration debate could help determine whether Democrats or Republicans dominate the fastest-growing voting bloc in years to come.
The issue threatens to divide Democrats. Affluent, well-educated liberals are embracing immigration as part of cultural diversity. But poor Democrats, including blacks, are wary of Hispanics' growing economic and political clout.
Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, who supports the McCain-Kennedy bill, joined Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., this month in declaring immigration emergencies in their states. "We just kept waiting and waiting and waiting but never did see a sense of urgency from Washington," she said.
Voters are frustrated, too, especially in the Southwest, where illegal immigration is an unsettling fact of life.
"It's sad to see Democrats doing what Republicans ought to be doing," Danielle Taylor, 24, a Republican voter in Scottsdale, said during a break from her bank job. "Napolitano may have just earned my vote."
McCain faced tough questions at a town hall meeting Thursday night in Mesa, where conservatives accused him of going soft on illegal immigrants. "No amnesty!" some shouted.
McCain says his bill does not provide amnesty. Conservatives say no better word describes allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S.
Bush may face similar criticism. McCain, Napolitano and other supporters of guest workers argue that it is unrealistic to deport 11 million people.
McCain's bill would require the undocumented workers to register with the government, pay all back taxes and a $2,000 fine, then go through a series of background checks and work at least six years before applying for a green card.
The senator said he is willing to stiffen those requirements. The White House plan probably will have its own.
The White House may take the unusual step of writing the legislation or submitting specific language to Congress.
"I Hillary Rodham Clinton do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President..."
Kiss my Buttock
They're not getting it. They are just not getting it.
i have supported him faithfully, as i believe he has been unflinching in the war on terror, but, for some reason, he has a weak spot where illegals are concerned.
it is possible republicans can lose an election in many states over this single issue. it is THE issue next election.
That will never happen.
This insanity must be defeated at all costs. If conservatives, who elect these people into office cannot keep them from imposing unwanted policies on us and the country then there's no use in staying in the party is there?
no, they are not
and blaming Bush's failed so far attitude towards illegal immigration on business interests alone is folly
it's a philosophical issue for him and some other notables (wink)
I will support this "new" amnesty program if 100% of all Bush family asettes are included in the bill to pay the costs of these lawbreakers..... And the assettes of any other politico who chooses to support such a plan.
But that will never happen - it's not in their personal best interest.
We gripe all the time here about the DemocRATs often blatant conflict of interest/being bought and paid for by special interests, etc. Well, someone please convince me that GW and family are not in the same type of conflict here. They may not personally rely on illegals for their family fortune, but they obviously have friends and supporters (read that financial) that DO use illegals extensively. Otherwise, why would these people be so eager to throw away our nation's laws and sovereignty?
I place the lack of enforcement of our borders very close to the same level of treason as Clintoon's giveaway (sale) of our missile technology.
Right now, I am in favor of a new Joseph McCarthy - but this time, instead of a campaign to expose communists (although that would likely come out too!), this effort would be to expose treason by our nation's "leaders". The Clintons, the Bush family (don't anyone say they are totally innocent), and all other politicians and public figures who support the giveaway of our national sovereignty - regardless of their supposed political party or association.
But - we will continue on the road of "Status Quo" and one day in the not-so-distant future, we will wake up an say "what happened to our country".
I, for one, cannot comprehend how a President who has sworn to upon the Constitution to protect this nation from foreign and domestic enemies can sit back and shrug his shoulders at the dangerous illegal problem.
We don't owe illegals anything. There shouldn't even be discussion of a "guest-worker" program.
Depends on the nominee.
I'd like to see Kyl run for President!!
George W. Bush's abandonment of the United States border with Mexico has handed the Democrates full reigns in 2008.
2006 will be a bloodlust.
The silver lining here though is that with this attitude, it's less and less likely that McCain will get the GOP nomination in 2008...
At some point legislation on this issue was going to reach critical mass. Now is the time for the 'majority of Americans' to voice their opposition and compel big changes to any legislation before it becomes law.
The only way I can think of is to stop funding the Republican Party across the board. Every time you get a phone call or something comes in the mail let them know you will not give them 2 cents until they take real action on immigration. That is what I have been doing for months.
I get a call, they give their 'we have to fight the Democrats' speech and can you please send us $100. I respond, do something about illiegal immigration and then call me. If we can get enough people to multiple that response they will get the message.
Maybe start a web site - stopgopfunding.com?
There's only one thing that prevents me from rejecting Bush's plan outright- if we are going to have a guest-worker program (and I wish were weren't but both major plans have such a program), then if we don't allow those already here to be the guest workers, then we'll just have to import even MORE Mexicans. And that's the last thing I want.
I wish we WOULD have mass deportations, but given the political realities and the inevitability of a guest worker program, maybe Bush's program isn't as bad as, say, McCain's.
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