Dubya, this "immigration plan" doesn't do it. I'll leave it to others to explain why in detail, but the most grating part is that it demonstrates massive naivete.
How about the "illegal aliens who are already here and have a job will get guest worker status"? Aside from being a slap in the face of every legal green card holder by rewarding those who broke the law, how does this idea work in practice? I can see it now - declare that every illegal alien in the country with a job on Jan 1, 200X gets a guest worker card. Then stand back, Nellie, the borders will look like the opening of a sale at Filene's basement as the aliens beat feet to be on board when the gravy train leaves the station.
And exactly what does every illegal alien "with a job" mean? These aren't underpaid Indian programmers looking for a programming gig with a software company that will let them keep their H1B visas. Many illegal aliens are day laborers hanging around on street corners for prospective employers to drive by. Here's just one recent example. OK, do they have a job or not? Well, it probably doesn't make any difference after the same guys who now forge Social Security cards cover that base too.
Then after you cover the "worker," what about his/her family and who is included in that? Wouldn't want to tear them from the bosom of their loving family, right? Does it include kids; Mom and Dad; bothers and sisters; aunts and uncles; nephews and cousins? Any of them have to have "jobs" too?
And whatever rules are decided on will be enforced by the same crack bureaucrats that keep out illegal aliens now. Be still, my heart.
Basically, the whole thing is an unworkable crock. I've seen some comments that suggest that the whole "plan" is a clever political ploy, particularly the part to leave the details up to Congress. But I never suspect conspiracy when incompetence will do and this smells mightily like incompetence. Dubya, I'm sure Tom Ridge is a swell guy, but the next time he comes up with a brain wave, please run it by Rummy first.
Finally, it wouldn't do to forget the whining leftoids who are disappointed that the President didn't roll out the Welcome Wagon for a wave of illegal immigrants. Their take seems to be haul 'em in, sign 'em up for government benefits, and register 'em to vote in the Democrat party. I'll skip the usual professional "activists" and even the AFL-CIO, which has apparently turned its back on its traditional craft worker stalwarts, and cut right to the chase with the Axis of Asshats:
Deano:
We need earned legalization for undocumented immigrants in the US who work hard, pay taxes, and otherwise obey the rules, so that they can become full participants in society, including becoming citizens.Weasley:
Today, the Bush White House proposed an immigration reform program that fails to help the immigrants who contribute to their communities every day...The haughty, French-looking guy who served in Vietnam:
We should allow hard-working, law-abiding, undocumented workers to eventually earn their citizenship.
Bush's proposal fails to address the plight of immigrants coming to work in the United States by not providing a meaningful path to becoming legal permanent residents. And if Bush is really concerned about the plight of immigrants coming to work in the United States he should tell his party to stop the heartless and divisive politics the Republican Party is employing in California to get a new Prop 187 on the ballot for next year's election, and a similar effort in Arizona to victimize immigrants for the failures of government and an unstable economy.Sorry, dipsticks, it's not "undocumented," it's illegal.
"As president, I will support sensible reform of our immigration system that protects workers and also provides employers with the employees that they need. I will immediately resume our dialogue with President Fox and put in place an earned legalization program that will allow undocumented immigrants to legalize their status if they have been in the United States for a certain amount of time, have been working, and can pass a background check.
