Bush Seeks New Rights for Foreign Workers

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://www.comcast.net/News/DOMESTIC//XML/...acc648fc05.html

 

WASHINGTON - Millions of illegal migrant farmers, hotel maids and others working in the shadows of American society would be granted legal status and freed from the threat of deportation under an election-year proposal President Bush wants Congress to approve.

 

Bush called Mexican President Vicente Fox to brief him Wednesday morning in advance of Bush's speech later in the day at the White House.

 

"There are some jobs in this country, in our growing economy, that Americans are not filling," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "That presents an opportunity for workers from abroad who want to work."

 

Bush's proposals break a virtual silence on immigration since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks raised fears about border security.

 

The president argues that his plan would make America safer by giving the government a better idea of who was crossing U.S. borders, bolster the economy by meeting employers' need for willing low-wage workers, and fulfill a mandate for compassion by guaranteeing the rights and legitimacy of illegal workers.

 

Likely to be left unsaid during the president's speech were the political dividends White House advisers hoped the proposal would pay.

 

By dangling the prospect of legal status to some 8 million illegal immigrants now estimated to be in this country, about half of them Mexican, Bush was granting a top priority of the business community while making his most aggressive move yet to court Hispanic voters _ the nation's fastest-growing electoral bloc.

 

He won just over one-third of that constituency in 2000 but wants to expand his support in the community to better his chances for re-election in November.

 

The proposal would provide a way for illegal immigrants who can show they have employment to work legally, although temporarily, in the United States. The new "temporary worker program," which also would include people still in their native countries who have a job lined up in the United States, would not, like the temporary visa programs already in existence that involve mostly technical experts, apply only to a certain sector of the economy or industry.

 

Much of the detail of president's proposal was to be worked out by Congress in future negotiations with the White House.

 

For instance, Bush wants to increase the nation's yearly allotment of green cards that allow for permanent U.S. residency, but won't say by how much, the officials said. Around 1 million green cards a year are issued now, though just 140,000 of them are employment-based.

 

He also wants the workers' first three-year term in the program to be renewable but won't say for how long; he won't set the amount workers should pay to apply for the program; and he won't specify how to enforce the requirement that no American worker wants the job the foreign worker is taking, according to administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

 

Perhaps the biggest unresolved question is how the plan will allow illegal immigrants access, which they do not now have, to the process of applying for green cards, or permanent U.S. residency.

 

Sensitive to the opposition of many conservatives in Bush's own party to any reward for those who broke the law when they entered the United States, the administration officials said repeatedly that the president is not proposing blanket amnesty for illegals and that the program is not linked to the green card process.

 

But they also said that workers accepted into the temporary program could immediately, with an employer's sponsorship, begin applying for a green card. Although these workers would get no advantage over other applicants, an illegal immigrant who attempted to apply now would simply be deported.

 

If permanent residency were not granted before the worker's term was up _ a likely outcome given the long backlog of applicants and the relatively small percentage of applicants who receive green cards each year _ the person would have to return to his or her home country to apply from there.

 

As a result, even though program participants would be allowed to have dependents with them and be able to move freely between their country and the United States, immigrant advocacy groups say the president's proposal falls short of the comprehensive reform they say is needed.

 

"Extremely disappointing," said Cecilia Munoz, vice president for policy at the National Council of La Raza. "They're proposing to invite people to be guest workers without providing any meaningful opportunity to remain in the United States to become legal permanent residents."

 

In another attempt to placate conservative critics, Bush is proposing incentives to induce the workers ultimately to return to their home countries, including allowing them to collect retirement benefits in their home countries based on Social Security taxes paid here.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Just so we're clear... these are ILLEGAL immigrants, ones who snuck into the country right?

 

...

 

...

 

Ok.

 

This seems like an oddly non-Bush stance.

[Highland 0]

It's an election ploy to pander to Hispanics.

[Cartman 0]

It's an election ploy to pander to Hispanics.

Glad to see someone "Gets It" here.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

So, what happens to the children that might be born during these work stints?

 

I don't think alot of them will be going home.

 

Just another useless gesture to pander to Hispanic voters.

[BX 0]

This has a lot of people in my area pissing mad.

[Vyce 0]

I'd like to see any conservative here defend this as anything BUT blatant pandering, cause I can't see how it could be done.

[Kizzo 0]

Since he can't get the african american vote.....he suggests this plan to get the Hispanic vote.....Sad

[Highland 0]

It's quite shrewd actually, considering hispanics are the fastest growing electoral demographic, but this will definately cost him alot of conservative votes.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Actually, I don't think it'll cost him many conservative votes at all. It seems that the majority of people who are into George Bush will stick with him even if he makes a handful of decisions against what they want. This in particular feels like a small sort of pander that even the staunchest of Republicans will let slide for the greater good.

[Highland 0]

Granted, but still it is a risky gamble on Bush's part.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Wow, a politican pandering to a group for votes. Next thing you know you'll tell me...

 

<<<TIME TO PLAY THE KKK MATCH GAME>>>

 

A) John Kerry...

B) Mikey Moore...

C) George W. Bush...

D) Chris Berman...

E) Dick Cheney...

 

A) ...made money while at Haliburton

B) ...is HITLER!

C) ...served in Vietnam *Well, we know "C" isn't the right answer here*

D) ...stops at every available all-you-can-eat buffet during a book tour

E) ...never sees the color of an athlete's skin

[Vern Gagne 0]

Granted, but still it is a risky gamble on Bush's part.

Not really. Like Vyce said. Most conservatives don't like the idea but we'll still vote for the guy. After all who's a better alternative?

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

Wow, a politican pandering to a group for votes. Next thing you know you'll tell me...

 

<<<TIME TO PLAY THE KKK MATCH GAME>>>

 

A) John Kerry...

B) Mikey Moore...

C) George W. Bush...

D) Chris Berman...

E) Dick Cheney...

 

A) ...made money while at Haliburton

B) ...is HITLER!

C) ...served in Vietnam *Well, we know "C" isn't the right answer here*

D) ...stops at every available all-you-can-eat buffet during a book tour

E) ...never sees the color of an athlete's skin

D) applies to at least 3 people on that list.

 

As far as the actual issue goes, I don't think this costing votes is going to be an issue for Bush. His challenge with this legislation will be finding enough representatives in the center on both sides that support it to offset the opposition from right conservatives and left liberals.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

D) applies to at least 3 people on that list.

 

Process of elimination -- just like when you took tests in school...

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

So.. say Oscar from Mexico fathers a child who is born in San Diego. The kid is a US citizen, Oscar is not. When his permit runs out, would he get another one or be rejected, if he is rejected, then would he really leave the country for good or come back in?

 

the article made it seem like Bush was very vague on his plan. And the employee-sponsorship thing is due to backfire. If you screw up, then no more sponsorship, and back to Mexico you go.

[Guest Wildbomb 4:20]

Personally, I think the plan is a crock of shit. MORE illegal immigrants? Good call. Coming from an area that has 15% of the population made up of illegals from Brazil, I get real sick and tired of being paid minimum wage, or lower, in order to get a job because the damned Brazilians will work for free. Bull-friggen-shit.

 

Sorry, but this is one issue that really, really, pisses me off.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

I'm curious, anyone nkow what kind of reaction this is getting from the right? It seems like the kind of thing they would at if it came from the left. It's always interesting to see things like this

 

(politics can be fun and interesting as long as you're not around people too far left or too far right).

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Well, my Daily Right-Wing Talking Points Memo hasn't come in yet, but I'm sure they Far Right is not too happy about it.

 

(politics can be fun and interesting as long as you're not around people too far left or too far right).

 

Wrong -- that's when politics is the MOST fun...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

So rather than investigate and crack down on companies hiring illegals, they legitimize it?

 

 

 

WHAT!?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

*Put on pro-give-away-condoms-in-schools hat*

 

Well, they're going to do it anyway.

 

*Takes it off...*

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Immigrants? Yes. Businesses? Not if it was unprofitable. But that contrasts with being hands-off on business to the point of foolishness.