Bush Calls For 'Rational, Humane' Guest Worker Program

AP ^ | Feb 1, 2006 | AP

[Icelander]

Advocates on both sides of the immigration debate said President Bush missed an opportunity in his State of the Union address Tuesday night to direct Congress on immigration reform, weeks before Senate lawmakers begin to tackle the divisive issue.

Breezing by the issue in just a few sentences, Bush endorsed a program that would allow foreigners to work temporarily in this country, saying the nation needs orderly and secure borders but that the economy couldn't function without immigrants.

His brief mention drew a disappointed rebuke from Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., who has led an effort to tighten the nation's borders and enforce immigration laws.

Bush could have "broken the Washington stalemate and secured the most significant immigration reform in a decade," Tancredo said.

Angela Kelley, deputy director of the pro-immigrant National Immigration Forum, also said Bush fell short. "It's really important for him to step up and provide some leadership on this issue," she said.

Senators are expected to take up immigration legislation in the coming weeks.

Immigration has featured heavily in Bush's State of the Union speeches in past years. But with his own party deeply divided over the issue, he devoted just over a paragraph to the subject Tuesday.

Still several lawmakers praised Bush.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said he was pleased Bush "called for an immigration system that deals with the influx of illegal immigrants realistically. Now it's time for both the House and the Senate to rise to the president's challenge and enact meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform."

How to deal with the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country now _ and the thousands crossing the border each year _ has divided Congress and is becoming an increasingly volatile issue at the state and local level.

Even non-border states are wrestling with how to provide government services, such as health care, to illegal immigrants and whether to restrict drivers' licenses and withhold benefits to illegal workers.

Jennifer Allen, who directs the Border Action Network, based in Tucson, Ariz., said immigrants she works with are watching anxiously as Congress talks about building walls at the Mexican border and increasing the penalties for being in the country illegally.

She and other advocates are loudly calling for Congress to fix the nation's troubled immigration system.

This summer, Democratic Govs. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Janet Napolitano, of Arizona declared a state of emergency in their border counties to free up money for immigration-related needs.

Richardson said Bush's brief mention in the State of the Union was a signal the White House would not make it a major issue in the coming months.

"The message I received is that on immigration, we're going to leave the burden on the states like New Mexico and Arizona, and it's sort of like 'You're on your own,'" Richardson said.

In the Senate, Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., have proposed programs that regulate when and how immigrants can come to the U.S.

Kyl said Tuesday that he would have liked to hear more from Bush about immigration, but he was glad "the key elements were there" in his speech.

"It is a very serious problem for Arizona," Kyl said. "I think everyone in the Senate wants to get something done ... whether the president mentions it or not."

[Buffettfan]

Well, the People say NO to a guest worker program. Guess what? WE WIN!

[Truth29]

"Press 5 three times for Icelandic."

HAHA. Everytime I think I can puzzle out a few words of Icelandic, I listen to some native speakers and it might as well be Sanscrit.

[Itzlzha]

I'm just glad someone as hateful as you won't be determining US immigration policy. (And if the Mods are notified of this "abusive" post, please note that I didn't call the other poster "excrement.")

No, OBL pultroons and corrupt politicos are making "US Immigration policy"...they just make sure that the Laws of the US aren't enforced!

But have another 10 Million "anchor Babies" thanks to a deliberate misreading of the 14th Amendment!

Disregard The Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo...
ARTICLE XVI

Each of the contracting parties reserves to itself the entire right to fortify whatever point within its territory it may judge proper so to fortify for its security.

Cry me another river that Pedro has been here 15 years, doesn't speak English (nice melting pot, huh?), and makes $600/week ILLEGALLY! And Americans are being laid off from Companies that are moving to Mexico for cheap labor and EPA regs (Steris anyone?)

Tell it to the people who have their S.S. numbers/I.D.'s stolen and raided by Illegals!

Tell it to the Border communities that are going bankrupt from the unfunded burden the Fed puts on them by DELIBERATELY refusing to enforce the Laws! Tell it to the Police that are now sending Bills for services to Mexico and the US Gub'Mint over Illegal Infiltrators!

Or the Medical Centers that are in the Red thanks to Illegals using the Emergency Room for the sniffles, and not paying for the service!

So, I said effluvia...and I'm the meanie who's "hateful"...when we have criminal Illegals like MS-13 and the MEXICAN ARMY running drugs and who-knows-what across the sieve that is a Border...that the Feds refuses to secure!

Just like the Brokeback Republicans, you need a spine, and maybe some patriotism for YOUR Country, and not the Illegal Infiltrators that are destroying it!

[GarySpFc]

The wall is the only realistic start to any reform.

I agree, the only solution is the Hunter Duncan proposal, which provides for twin 15 foot steel fences with sensors on 700 miles of the border.

[Rakkasan1]

you nailed it RJL. we didn't even track down terrorist who overstayed their visa limits, yet I'm to believe we'll do that for poor, hardworking ,sympathethic Jorge who overstayed his legal welcome.

right....

[bluetone006]

Truth is, mechanization exists for almost all products in the fruit and vegetable industry. Costs for produce would not change significantly. The only downside would be the up-front capitalization costs that would be required.

But let's say I'm wrong and the only way to get American's back into the fields and the construction industry is to raise wages (to something livable). Food and housing would cost a small percentage more. But the money would stay in the US, in our economy, it would be taxed, fewer American's would be on public assistance, and the massive amounts we spend on hand outs would end. It would be worth every penny and more in the long run.

[RSmithOpt]

With as much sun that shinnes in the desert SW, electrification wouldn't be all that expensive either. Of course, let's add towers twin 50 cals that are activiated automatically with FLIR motion sensors.......would make it a serious 'b-winch' to cross then, wouldn't it? (Aaaayyyyeeee Coooruuumbbba!!!)

[Howlin]

Absolutely.

And I think it SHOULD be the official language.

[Itzlzha]

Thank you for your comments....the truth really hurts sometimes, don't it. You're dead on target about the illegals and agriculture jobs and moving on to more skilled labor.

You are more than welcome! Thank you for your kind words.

Americans need to stand up and demand that our "Leaders" do the job "American Corrupt Politicians Won't Do!"

If you liked that, check Post 83

[Rakkasan1]

fence first, farsical whimsy later.

[processing please hold]

I agree, the only solution is the Hunter Duncan proposal, which provides for twin 15 foot steel fences with sensors on 700 miles of the border.

I really like the sound of that.

[Politicalmom]

I guess you missed the part about "bringing the illegals in out of the shadows". THAT IS AMNESTY!!

[Travis McGee]

You mean only the brown ones, right?

You know they have lost the debate, when all they can do is throw down the

[Itzlzha]

You are tangling with one of the "Cult of Bush" Arch-Mages!

Be careful, lest ye gain their full wrath!

[Squeako]

How exactly do you 'require' an illegal to learn English?

The easiest way to have illegal workers speak English is to hire ones from different countries. Mexicans don't speak Tagalog. LOL

[ARCADIA]

Sadly, President Bush's failure to secure the borders is undermining his position

It also undermines his position on issues like Social Security. Why should we reduce entitlements to our own citizens; if we are still willing to pay hundreds of billions to support enormous numbers of Mexico's citizens. Shouldn't we take care of our own first; and, shouldn't we give priority to those who have actually paid into our system.

[EveningStar]

Add: REQUIRED to learn English.

Never happen. Everytime we advocate it, some buttwipe tries to fit us with a Klan hood or a Nazi armband.

[Shermy]

"Who tracks the "guest worker" after the job ends?"

And who decides an American wouldn't do the job? And at what price? Except for agricultural stoop labor Americans will do the jobs.

[Icelander]

Alternatives to Immigrant Labor?
The Status of Fruit and Vegetable
Harvest Mechanization in the United States

[GarySpFc]

I agree, the only solution is the Hunter Duncan proposal, which provides for twin 15 foot steel fences with sensors on 700 miles of the border.

In a town meeting Senator Brownback answer my call for a fence by saying it would not work. I replied, "A similar set of fences are working perfectly in Israel."