Do you think that Bush's guest worker program is a sneaky move that won't solve the real problem?
597914
it wont solve the problem its amnesty without saying it \n\n\n wonder how many nurses, teachers, or high-tech workers would work for $8 an hour. Wait, you didn't know that Bush's "guest worker" plan would be open to those people too?\nThat's what they have in mind. And, there would be no wage-related restrictions on it other than the minimum wage. So, employers could offer a teaching job for $8 an hour. American teachers would either take that rate or, more likely, they wouldn't. So, the employer could hire that "guest" worker from Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi would consider that a king's ransom. All the requirements of Bush's plan had been met: there wasn't an American willing to do the job.\nBush's plan would force millions of previously higher-wage jobs down near the minimum wage. What phrase would most Americans use to describe such a plan?\n\nWhat exactly does he mean by "families"? Will their immediate family come with them or not? If not, are we going to be able to split up families? Not all people coming here would be Mexicans or from the parts of Mexico near the border. Is Bush going to require men to travel hundreds of miles to see their immediate family?\nIf, however, they're bringing their immediate family with them, there will no doubt be hundreds of thousands of children born, and those children will be U.S. citizens. Who's going to be able to make them go home after they've had a U.S. citizen child? And, won't most "guest" workers intentionally have children here so it will be harder to make them go home?\nAnd, given that, doesn't this plan consist not just of an amnesty, but as a massive incentive for a huge chunk of Mexico's population to come here? Was any thought put into the consequences of this plan at all?\nNo, no guestworker program should take the place of following the law! This still allows the law-breaking illegals to go to the head of the line and disrupts the ability of legal immigrants to get their chance! Until such time as all able-bodied welfare recipients are put to work, all homeless people, all college and high school students have the chance to work, we don't need to import anyone to take our jobs! Stop pandering, stop giving handouts and stop lying to the American people!\nEvery so often the real agenda slips through\n\nhow can an American be expected to do a job that has had the wage undercut by cheap illegal labor from Mexico? How will legalizing this cheap labor change that situation? Of course, it will not. In fact, it will only encourage more border crossing, which will result in more Mexican citizens and others living in the United States and having children who are U.S. citizens, and who are thus harder to deport when their “temporary” guest worker visas expire. Given the fraud, incompetence, and bureaucratic lethargy that mark most government programs, how can the public have any faith that such a plan would work even remotely as advertised? \n\n\n\n\nAll of these illegals will eventually stay, become voters, if the DNC has their way, their population will continue to grow and they will become a voting block that has NO interest in our language, history, military, or patriotism, only the $$$$ that are available will be the main interest.\nThat scenario is not totally here yet, but it is lingering in the future if our national course of extreme liberalism continues to erode the very fabric of our nation.
1101086
If there is a full stop at the end of that (no guest worker program until we work out what we need) I'm fine with that.\n\nThe Devil's in the details, of course!
628600
I don't think anyone wants to see 'guest worker' ANYTHING until about 1/2 million mexicans go HOME. After that starts to happen,then we can start talking about work permits and all that jazz....but right now, Mexico's got a problem, they forgot they LOST the war of 1848 and that americans are just going to stand idly by while they walk back in en masse. The border patrol says Bush's plan is horse%%%%,so we'll have to wait and see what's really going on with this issue, and whether or not this administration's going to carry off the kind of reforms that will make Mexico sit up and take notice...Mexico doesn't just want 2 bites, they want the WHOLE enchilada. They use their people as tools for their policy goals...hold the baby CLOSER to the camera LOLOL
378813
That absolutely does not scare me.  That is what should be happening all the time.  Unfortunately, this is just a pre-election stunt.\n\nIf anyone remembers two years ago, ICE (or was it the INS at that time) busted Walmart for hiring illegal alien janitors.  All the politicians trotted this out as being tough on corporate cheaters who circumvent U.S. labor law.\n\nHow many companies have been busted for this since then?  Hmmm.  None?  This is just a big splashy news story that won't be followed up by any more actions of this type.
830857
As A liberal I agree completely that the amount of money on what is an unjust war is obscene.  However, the amount of money local, state, and federal agencies are spending on the illegal entrant problem is hardly acceptable.  While it is true that there have always been problems with illegal entry, the last decade has seen this problem mushroom.  It may be the same old problem but it is far worse than ever before.  Couple a loosely guarded border with homeland security concerns and the economic burdens involved and you have a real problem.\n\nIs it a distraction from more pressing problems?  Perhaps.  The loss of civil rights, the loss of habeus corpus, our dropping the ball in Afghanistan, the morass in Iraq and the criminal lack of a reasonable working health care system in this country are far more dire problems in my judgement.  However, we can not downplay the fact that illegal entry is a serious problem that must be dealt with.  Our government should and must eb able to deal with many sets of problems at one time.\n\nThis problem will not be dealt with though, not until our government goes after the company's (big and little, corporation and farm) that depend on hiring illegal entrants for their profits.  We can build as many fences as there is metal available and people will come in while company after company recruits them, hires them and in some cases helps them gain entry.  To go after these the coporations that hire these people would mean those same corporations would stop contributing to political campaigns.  We'll see if that ever happens.
603198
The problem is that in order to get a perpetual stream of low wage workers, big business has tangled the amnesty concept up in the guest worker program.  A Senator projected immigration under the guest worker program, including the increased legal immigration going forward, as bringing in an additional 217 million poor immigrants in the next 20 years on top of those already here.  There is no provision for employers to offset the impacts on schools or other services.  \n\nI think the guest worker plan in this form has to go.  I would be OK with legalizing current qualified illegal immigrants so long as I really felt the border was secure and employers could be held accountable.  I would combine the House Bill provisions on border security with the Senate Bill employer database and penalty provisions.  \n\nHowever, an increase in legal immigration assumes that we have really stopped the illegal immigration.  I think we need to make sure the border is actually secure before deciding whether and how much to increase legal immigration rates going forward.
239303
I have heard of it but don't think it is probably true. It just don't sound reasonable that a president would do that with that intent. I would certainly hope not anyway.
691725
There is no flip flopping. Bush has always supported a guest-worker program. Some people feel this is amnesty, others do not.\n\nBut, yes, Bush supports some form of an amnesty. He seems to be under the impression that there are jobs in america that Americans will not do. This is completely untrue. There ARE however, jobs that Americans will not do for $3 a day. If these jobs were forced to provide decent wages, there would be plenty of people legally here in the country that would be willing to do those jobs.\n\nCheers :)
566439
Sensenbrenner (House Bill Sponsor) says the provisions about an illegal being a felon were put in at the request of the White House.  Press reports from last December have Bush saying good things about the House Bill. Somewhere he decided he could get his slave labor program put in, and now he wants that.\n\nHe sent a delegate to meet twice with the House and Sensenbrenner didn't even bother to go.  Others from the House just kept saying "The President isn't where the people are," according to press reports.\n\nThe one faction that wins from excessive immigration to the point where education and other services are ruined is big business.  That appears now to be what matters most to him.
1054620
Look on Pence's web page, it is his idea.  He doesn't have the important specifics there to my mind, though.  One problem is that it is UNLIMITED in the first few years and as far as I can see is not even limited to only those currently here so that these guest workers wouldn't be ON TOP of current legal and illegal immigration.\n\nhttp://mikepence.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=2146\n\nBy the way, it says they are guests and will return back home after a period of time, but says having a family here is a reason to stay, elsewhere.  \n\nI'd say any guest worker program should have the employer provide health care and at minimum 'impact fees' to impacted schools.  However, I suppose that could still be added, since discussion rages.
583166
I think the sporadic fence and remote sensors, increased border patrol and training and technology to help them do their job, coupled with drone aircraft is the way to go.  That is what is being discussed, but we have to make sure it is seriously implemented. \n\nSince concerns about border patrol are stalling immigration reforms including legalizing the bulk of current illegals, Bush is probably going to put National Guard on the borders until the other measures (whatever they end up being) go into effect.  He really wants part of his legacy in office to be the legalization of qualified current illegal immigrants and the creation of additional future legal immigration (on top of our current rate of legal immigration) through a guest worker program.\n\nI have some concerns about the manner in which the guest worker program will be implemented. (How do we make sure these new temporary workers leave when it is time? Will their employers pay health benefits and impact fees to schools to cover the extra burdon?) However, if the border is really secure and we make the guest worker program work like it is supposed to, I am generally ok with Bush's plan.\n\nKYRealEstateGuy, of course it is about terrorism. One of the 9/11 terrorists came across the border illegally.  After 9/11 and with the middle east rhetoric we can't afford an unscreened flood of who-knows-who across our border.  The President's plan intends to INCREASE legal immigration from Mexico to the extent other countries are accusing us of favoritism (no joke).\n\nFor me the border security is the most important piece.
148054
United Statates most definetly does not have an "open door" policy with regards to immigration. It does not have an active immigration program like Canada does.\n\nPersonally, as much as I don't like Bush, his guest worker program proposal makes sense, this would stop illegal immigration by a large extent.\n\nAlso I belive that the US should concentrate more on selecting educated people to come to the US, right now these people represent a small minority from the immigration programs available.
606615
Lordzander--we meet again :)\n\nI am surprised at the vehement hatred I see posted in answer to this question. \n\nI have family memebers that would benefit from the president's proposed guest worker program (no amnesty has been proposed), due to  a major screw up with immigration forms being mishandled and no opportunity being given to refile or correct. They are not from Mexico, however they are of latin origin. They are in limbo, waiting for a response. Been waiting two years. They were here on a religious workers' visa. I know of many people who would benefit from a guest worker program. It is a humane response to a very complicated problem.\n\nNow, those of you who don't hang with farmers--will you be willing to pick the crops?  If the food goes unpicked, how much will you be willing to pay for that very scarce head of lettuce?  $5.00 perhaps, if picked by legal American hands?  How could you afford to eat, let alone pay for gas?\n\nHave you considered that unemployment is 4%, which is about 9-10 million Americans. There are about 15-20 million undocumented workers here.  If we subtract that number we still have anywhere from 4~10 million jobs unfilled.  What will happen if we don't have our illegals willing to work for so little?  Competition for workers, jobs that just don't get filled, inflation, a shrinking economy and a falling dollar. None of these are very good things--they all lead to a downward economic spiral.\n\nBut, I can see that most of you who have answered are inspired by hatred rather than facts. Learn to love your illegals and be glad they are here; they allow so many of us to live a very comfortable life.
314961
It´s a lovely idea, but doesn´t sound like anything the current US administration would go for.  After all, while hyping the immigration issue in the media and, frankly, whipping up racism, they are also quite happy to turn a blind eye to US businesses using cheap illegal labour. It´s happening in all western countries at the moment.  The media, backed by the government, incites its citizens to be worried about illegal immigration, while the economy actually benefits from the black market economy working with it. I´m in Mexico now on holiday, but staying with family.  It´s a hard place, with a bad atmosphere.  It definitely needs some help, but everyone here says the corruption is so far reaching, there is no hope.  Your idea is nice but too socialist for anyone in today´s political arena and, like Iraq, would require serious investment, commitment and integrity..... never forget it´s all about the money.
607894
There are two bills, one in the House, and another in the Senate.  The House bill has been passed, and is much more strict than what is expected from the Senate (it would make being an illegal alien a felony, and would make aiding or giving shelter to an illegal alien a felony.)  I can't see it passing in that form and expect the House wanted a position it could negotiate from when it comes time to 'conference' the two bills together into one the House and Senate can agree upon.  \n\nThe Senate Bill would likely create a some form of guest worker program, and a path to citizenship for those who meet its requirements.  Both Bills would seek to strengthen the border, which the volume of illegal immigration has demonstrated to be a national security disaster, if nothing else.  The President wants a guest worker program and path to citizenship.\n\nThat is how I understand things stand at this point.
456800
Guest workers sound great in theory.  But it will be like having illegals with a voice.  Are they citizens?  No.  But they will march just like the pro-illegals marching tomorrow, and guest workers will have a legal foundation to their argument.  People will be more sympathetic:  "Oh, we invited them in."\n\nI'm against the guest worker program.  Read the following.  It's long but good, and I wrote it.\n\n----\n\n\nIllegals aliens are NOT citizens.  They have only HUMAN rights in the USA.  THAT'S IT.  They have no Constitutionally guaranteed rights.\n\nDeporting them is NOT a civil rights issue.  We have the right to manage our immigration policy however we see fit.\n\nAnd regarding compassion, I have tons of compassion for them.  But we have a country to run, and we can't let people just waltz into the USA.  WE CAN'T ALLOW THEM TO IMPORT POLITICS.  Poor, uneducated, illiterate people tend to like SOCIALISM.  I don't.  I'm not talking about good all-american bleeding heart liberalism. I'm talking about Castro quality SOCIALISM.\n\nAlso, they are massing in the Southwest by the MILLIONS.  Do you realize that the population of TEXAS is 22 million.  And the proposed legislation wants to make 12 million illegals citizens.  And MOST of those are in the Southwest.  So, don't you think the people of these states have the right to not get their vote diluted by potential SOCIALISTS. This is not about race.  I have no problem with people who are here legally.  But when you allow millions of people in, they congregate together and hold the same political leanings (like allegiance to Mexico and socialistic beliefs).  The fact that most can't speak English just strengthens their solidarity and reinforces their beliefs because they can't understand what most Americans are saying.\n\nThis has the makings of ethnic strife written all over it.  Look at Northern Ireland. Iraq. France. Cyprus. Sudan. Turkey AND Iran with the Kurds.  Quebec in France.  Rwanda.  Yugoslavia.  Chechnya.  China.  And let's not forget Mexico itself, with the indian uprising in the Chiapis.  There is a clear correlation between ethnic strife and large areas that do not integrate into the whole.  This is what will happen if we have entire cities with millions of new non-English speaking citizens spring up in the southwest.  And this will happen if we have an open border.  The 12 million that we're talking about right now is just a start.  What about the next 30 years???  \n\nThe homogeneous culture of America is probably what made America as great as it is.  It is the most populace country in the world with a homogeneous culture.  Yes, we are filled with different races, religions, and ethnicities.  But they all came in, interacted with the other ethnicities, and diffused into living side by side.  Small areas did spring up with primarily one race/religion/ethnicity -- and there was almost always some amount of strife in that area.  Fortunately the areas were small enough to not expand to the level of a national conflict.\n\nAnd don't be fooled by the "guest worker" program.  They'll still be dirt poor, but "legal."  Then they'll have a basis for petitioning for rights.  They WILL want citizenship EN MASSE.  It will be the exact same situation, but worse since they'll have been INVITED.\n\nThe best outcome would be that we can integrate them all in.  But that will not happen.  They are poor.  We are typically the product of our homes, and the homes will be uneducated and spanish speaking.  The second best outcome would be a peaceful secession.\n\nPersonally, I'd rather pay a dollar more per pound of oranges, rather than have my kids or grandkids bombed or have to fight a civil war.
900439
An interesting assignment. I would be interested in seeing how that goes...\n\nI'm a Republican, and there's really not allot that stumps me. However, I WOULD ask for proof that a guest-worker bill is NOT amnesty by another name.