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Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 08:56:37 PM EST
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The New York Times reports Bush is considering compromising on immigration reform by agreeing to a bill that only addresses security enforcement and makes no provision for the undocumented or guest workers.

Republicans both inside and outside the White House say Mr. Bush, who has long insisted on comprehensive reform, is now open to a so-called enforcement-first approach that would put new border security programs in place before creating a guest worker program or path to citizenship for people living in the United States illegally.

Bush and Cheney got briefed last week on the "Pence Plan," proposed by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN.) Officially named the "Border Integrity and Immigration Reform Act," you can read Pence's description of it here and here. It includes the creation of "Ellis Island Centers" where private firms will recruit guest workers.

My bill does not include a so-called path to citizenship, i.e., an amnesty, for the some 12 million illegal aliens in this country. Instead, it insists that they leave and come back legally if they have a job opportunity in the U.S. They will be allowed to do so under the terms of a guest-worker program that will be implemented by firms in the private sector, not by a new government bureaucracy.

Private worker-placement agencies--"Ellis Island Centers"--would be licensed by the federal government to match guest workers with jobs that employers cannot fill with American workers. These agencies will match guest workers with jobs, perform health screening, fingerprint them, and convey the appropriate information to the FBI and Homeland Security so that a background check can be performed. Once this is done, the guest worker would be provided with a visa issued by the State Department. The whole process will take a matter of one week, or less.

The Senate bill, on the other hand, provides comprehensive immigration reform by addressing guest worker and citizenship programs as well as border enhancement.

A poll of likely Republican voters released June 22nd by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research includes these findings:

An overwhelming majority of registered, likely Republican voters support a broad approach to immigration reform that includes providing legal status to immigrants in the country illegally, even while many of them also consider this approach "amnesty." Republican voters also are more likely to support candidates who support immigration reform that combines border and workplace enforcement with a multi-step path to legalization for undocumented immigrants who learn English, pay fines, and taxes. Significantly, an overwhelming majority feel that it is very important for the Congress to solve the problem of illegal immigration this year.

An enforcement only bill is worse than no bill at all. As the House begins hearings across the country this week, be sure to let your Congresspersons know you oppose any bill that does not provide a path to citizenship for the undocumented.

Update: SusanG at Daily Kos has more on the hearings that begin today.

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    Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 09:10:34 PM EST
    oh. good. they're gonna privatize immigration. that'll work.

    Re: Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan (none / 0) (#2)
    by ras on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 09:41:16 PM EST
    Dems should immediately follow TL's advice & demand the immediate legislation of a path to citizenship for all the "undocumenteds." Such a stand can only end well for US. Alas, I suspect that they'll just hide their beliefs instead, mumble around the issues, and support candidates who do the same. Here comes yet another "moral victory." Then again, we'll soon see.

    Re: Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 10:56:46 PM EST
    ras:
    Dems should immediately follow TL's advice & demand the immediate legislation of a path to citizenship for all the "undocumenteds." Such a stand can only end well for US.
    I agree with you. What can possibly be wrong about giving people who are already working and earning a living in the US a clearly defined path to citizenship?

    Re: Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jul 05, 2006 at 12:07:20 AM EST
    Yeah, right. As if Bush would ever consider doing something for the country that is against his and the big businesses he represents economic interest. Still, I do hope the House bill proves the poison pill that kills any "immigration reform" this year. Given that the Senate bill is an absolute joke when it comes to border enforcement, I'd say we are better off with no bill at all.

    Re: Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jul 05, 2006 at 03:27:04 AM EST
    This calls for more marches by illegals waving Mexican flags while making demands!

    Re: Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jul 05, 2006 at 04:10:13 AM EST
    "The New York Times reports Bush is considering compromising on immigration reform by agreeing to a bill that only addresses security enforcement and makes no provision for the undocumented or guest workers." For once he's going to do something right.Law breakers should not get a free pass, it's like giving a jewel thief immunity if he and his buddies break into a store, and move in claiming they have a right to live in a jewelry store since they are jewel thieves.

    Re: Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan (none / 0) (#7)
    by Punchy on Wed Jul 05, 2006 at 07:50:28 AM EST
    This:
    Instead, it insists that they leave and come back legally if they have a job opportunity in the U.S.
    Cracks me up. Really does. "Insists" they leave? "Oh pretty please, Mr. Immigrant, go home where there's NO jobs, perhaps no house, no family, and just WAIT for us to call you back!" What transpo system is going to move 12 million people? Whatever it is, it'd make the Nazis jealous. Who's going to PAY for this transpo to AND from their "hometown"? And what if the country of origin REFUSES them? Are they then jailed? How do you attempt to round up 12 million without getting the first 10K and then putting 11.98 million in hiding? And what do these companies that rely on them supposed to do in the 3-6 months these illegals are shipped home and back?? This Pence Crap is so full of non-starters that a small part of me wants to see it passed, just so we can all laugh at their complete debacle...

    Bush Considering Abandoning Guest Workers Plan | 7 comments (7 topical)