Immigration Reform on Bush Agenda

[demdave]

President Bush plans to kick off his reelection year by proposing a program that would make it easier for immigrants to work legally in the United States, in what would constitute the most significant changes to immigration law in 18 years, Republican officials said yesterday.



Lobbyists working with the White House said Bush is developing a plan that would allow immigrants to cross the border legally if jobs are waiting for them. The sources said the administration also wants to provide a way for some undocumented workers in the United States to move toward legal status.

Bush will try to make the plan more palatable to conservatives by including stricter entry controls, including increased use of technology at the border and steps toward better enforcement of current visa restrictions and reporting requirements, sources said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25882-2003Dec23?language=printer

[atreides1]

1. I Guess...

...this would be like his promise to spend 15 billion dollars to help Africa with its AIDS epidemic, and the "Leave No Child Behind" education bill.

[pinto]

3. kick

[pinto]

2. fine print: no proposal of "specific legislation", but "broad principles"

as part of the "compassion agenda". Rove alert!

This a a Rove product, pure and simple. Float something he feels will up Repugs latino vote and then walk away.

If they were serious they'd comment on the Kolbe/Flake proposal, at least.

[foreigncorrespondent]

4. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=956188

I posted this in GD earlier today (U.S. time) because I thought because of the date on the article, that it didn't belong in LBN?

[demdave]

5. Date looked good to me

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 24, 2003; Page A01

[GRClarkesq]

6. I expect

some proposal to make it easier to hire temporary non-professional workers in the US. The only program for these type of workers at the moment is the H-2 which is a PIA, thus many employers just skip it and go the illegal route.

They will only be able to sell any sort of "amnesty" in Congress in conjunction with substantial tightening of the border. Good luck with that.

[CaptAhab]

7. Shit

If this is anything like the other "reforms" of His Imperial Chimpiness, then immigrants in the U.S. are probably screwed even more than they already are. Just when I was hoping to pay off my student loans by working here... Darn.