Thread: Bush makes immigration overhaul argument on border

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01110.html



Bush makes immigration overhaul argument on border

By Steve Holland
Reuters
Thursday, August 3, 2006; 4:56 PM



MISSION, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush argued on Thursday for combining tougher border enforcement with a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants as he clung to a position at odds with conservative Republicans.

Bush stopped within a stone's throw of the Rio Grande on the U.S.-Mexico border on the way to his Crawford, Texas, ranch for 10 days of vacation mixed with work on the Middle East and other issues. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to join him for the weekend.

He toured a section of the border where Border Patrol agents use a "skybox" device that elevates them above ground so they can track border movements closely and uses high-tech gadgets, such as infrared.

"We want to send a clear message, we will enforce our border," Bush said at an outdoors event to several dozen people who fanned themselves against the withering heat.

While stressing the need for tougher enforcement of the porous border to limit entry of illegal immigrants, Bush sounded a note of compassion for illegal immigrants seeking to scratch out a living in the United States.

"There are people doing jobs that Americans aren't doing, the people who come across this border to do work Americans are not doing, and it makes sense to let them come on a temporary basis in a legal way," Bush said.

There are an estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States and border security has become a volatile issue that could play a role in November congressional elections.

Congressional conservatives want tighter enforcement of northern and southern borders, while others, including Bush, back legislation that would put most of the immigrants in the country illegally on a path to U.S. citizenship.

Politicians of varying stripes recognize the need to toughen border enforcement, due partly to concerns about terrorists crossing illegally into the United States.

With few days left in this year's legislative session, doubts are rising the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives can agree on a compromise immigration reform bill.

"I expect the United States Congress to do its duty and pass comprehensive immigration reform," Bush said.

U.S. House Republican leaders plans to hold 21 hearings across the country through August to build support for tough border security measures to curb illegal immigration.

White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters traveling with Bush there were "active negotiations" going on about immigration with leaders of Congress.

"He understands the legislative process. It doesn't always operate neatly, quickly or according to timelines," he said.

© 2006 Reuters

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Originally Posted by jimpasz

President George W. Bush argued on Thursday for combining tougher border enforcement with a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants as he clung to a position at odds with conservative Republicans.

Sorry George, you can't be trusted on this issue.

Secure the border first, after it's been secure for a few years, and then come talk to me about a guest-worker program that does not include amnesty for any criminals.

"We want to send a clear message, we will enforce our border," Bush said at an outdoors event to several dozen people who fanned themselves against the withering heat.

Yeah right GW. You've sent the clear message that you WON'T secure the border. Who are you trying to kid!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/ ... 93182.html

Aug. 3, 2006, 5:02PM

Bush gets a 'look-see' at the border
By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

MISSION, Texas — President Bush got a tour of border patrol efforts in his home state _ a "look-see," as he called it _ before settling down on his ranch Thursday for a 10-day summer vacation.

With violence boiling in the Middle East and his party's control of Congress up for grabs in elections this fall, Bush is forgoing his typical monthlong break from the White House. Instead, he planned to spend 10 days in Crawford, Texas, before returning to work in Washington _ his shortest summer vacation since taking office.

The White House was taking pains to make sure it didn't appear that the president was tuned out from the world's problems, even temporarily. Bush's national security adviser and secretary of state were to arrive at the ranch Saturday to discuss a diplomatic resolution to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Bush also planned a brief interruption to his stay Aug. 10, when he was to fly to Wisconsin to tout his economic record and campaign for Republican congressional candidate John Gard. In another effort to help the party in this critical election year, he planned to attend an Aug. 11 barbecue at a neighboring ranch for donors who have raised at least $15,000 for the Republican National Committee.

On the way to Texas from Washington on Thursday, Bush detoured briefly to the U.S.-Mexico border to push his immigration plan, emphasizing the tough enforcement measures that conservatives support. He got an up close look at several tools the Border Patrol uses to catch people sneaking across _ helicopters, a boat and a small plane _ and he stopped to pet some horses that are used on old-fashioned patrols.

In a speech on the banks of the Rio Grande River, he spoke of using motion and heat sensors, infrared detection equipment and other high-tech devices to catch illegal immigrants. But he also said those who have been working in the United States long-term should be given a way to pay a fine and become citizens _ an idea that is unpopular with his conservative base and has been stalled in Congress.

"We have an obligation to secure our border and we have an obligation to treat people with decency and respect," the president said after his tour.

Bush said he had fulfilled his promise in May to put 6,000 members of the National Guard into the fight against illegal immigration by Aug. 1. The Guard said Monday that while more than 6,000 guard troops had been assigned to Southwestern border states by the government's Aug. 1 deadline, only about half were actually on duty along the border and many were still in training.

The president plans to return to his ranch near the end of the month for a few days. But that trip is scheduled to be interrupted with other travel away from Texas, including a visit to the Gulf Coast to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Bush has faced criticism every year for the time he spends at his ranch, but never as much as last year. Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast while Bush was away and eventually prompted him to cut his vacation short. And anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and thousands of her sympathizers camped outside the ranch to draw attention to the mounting deaths in Iraq.

Sheehan intends to return this summer _ this time to a five-acre lot that she bought seven miles away from the ranch. The site is a few yards from a sign picturing the president giving a thumbs-up sign that welcomes visitors to Crawford.

___

On the Net:

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 803-7.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 3, 2006

Fact Sheet: Operation Jump Start: Acting Now to Secure the Border

President Bush Discusses Comprehensive Immigration Reform in Texas
In Focus: Immigration


Today, President Bush Toured The Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector And Discussed The Need For Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The President has called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that will secure our borders, enhance worksite enforcement, create a temporary worker program, resolve the status of illegal immigrants already here, and promote assimilation into our society, including by learning English.

The Administration Is Taking Action To Secure Our Border And Deter Illegal Immigration

Under Operation Jump Start, About 6,000 National Guard Members Have Deployed To Help The Border Patrol Secure The Southern Border. In May, the President pledged that we would have up to 6,000 National Guard members in Southern Border States. Today, the President announced that we have met that pledge.

National Guard Members Are On Duty Supporting The Border Patrol In Texas, California, Arizona, And New Mexico. The President's proposals to put more agents in place and upgrade technology will take time. National Guard troops are providing immediate help with surveillance, construction, and logistics. Guardsmen are building fences, as well as manning detection equipment on the border and in command centers.

The Arrival Of National Guard Reinforcements In Four Southern Border States Has Put More Manpower On The Border And Allowed The Border Patrol To Move More Than 300 Agents Into Front-Line Positions. This additional manpower is producing results:

With support from National Guard members deployed under Operation Jump Start, Border Patrol agents have apprehended more than 2,500 illegal immigrants and seized more than 17,000 pounds of illegal drugs since June 15.

Last month, Border Patrol Agents in the Rio Grande Valley sector confiscated more than 4,200 pounds of marijuana hidden in a trailer. The support of the National Guard was important to making this seizure happen successfully.

We Are Deterring Illegal Immigration By Addressing The Problem Of "Catch And Release" At The Southern Border. For years, the government did not have enough detention space to hold all the illegal immigrants we catch at the border. Many were given a court date and released into society. When the court date arrived, many did not show up. The practice of "catch and release" is unacceptable, and the Administration is working to end it on the Southern border.

We Have Expanded Beds In Detention Centers. We have added 500 beds in a detention center in the Rio Grande Valley, and we will be adding another 1,500. Earlier this summer, the President signed an emergency spending bill providing funding for 4,000 new beds, and the President's FY07 budget proposes funding to further increase this number to an estimated total of 6,700 new beds.

We Are Accelerating The Deportation Process. Our actions have helped end the old practice of "catch and release" at the Southern border for illegal immigrants from Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. For example, under Operation Texas Hold ‘Em, we cut through red tape so we could quickly return all Brazilians caught illegally crossing the Southern border, resulting in a significant drop in the number of apprehended illegal immigrants from Brazil across the border as a whole.

Since The President Took Office In 2001, We Have Increased Funding For Border Security By 66 Percent To More Than $7.6 Billion, Equipped The Border Patrol With Better Technology, Built New Infrastructure, And Expanded The Border Patrol From About 9,000 To About 12,000 Agents. Since 2001, Federal agents have used these resources to apprehend and send home more than 6 million people entering America illegally. Earlier this summer, the President signed an emergency spending bill that provided an additional $1.9 billion in immediate funding for border security.

President Bush Has Called On Congress To Fund Increases In Manpower And Technology That Will Help The Border Patrol Build On Its Success And Gain Full Control Of The Border. Under the President's proposal, we will increase the size of the Border Patrol by an additional 6,000 agents, to a total of about 18,000. In addition, we will build high-tech fences in urban corridors, and new patrol roads and barriers in rural areas.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Must Address All Aspects Of Our Broken Immigration System

The President Has Called On Congress To Send Him A Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill That He Can Sign Into Law. Our Nation can have an immigration policy that is both rational and compassionate. Both the House and Senate have passed bills. The President calls on Congress to resolve its differences and send him a comprehensive immigration reform bill that he can sign into law.

In Addition To Securing The Border, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Must:

Create A Temporary Worker Program That Would Establish A Legal Channel For Foreign Workers To Enter Our Country In An Orderly Way, For A Limited Period Of Time. By creating a lawful channel for those who want to work in our country, a temporary worker program would reduce the number of people trying to sneak across the border, freeing agents to focus on apprehending criminals and terrorists who pose a threat to our security.

Enforce Our Immigration Laws At The Worksite. We are cracking down on employers who violate the law and working to ensure honest businesses have the tools they need to follow the law. The President has called for the creation of a tamper-proof identification card for legal foreign workers, and has asked Congress to make the Basic Pilot employment verification program mandatory and provide Homeland Security with the funding and authority to make sure it is an effective tool.

Resolve The Status Of Illegal Immigrants Who Are Already In The Country. The President opposes amnesty. He supports a rational middle ground between automatic citizenship for every illegal immigrant and mass deportations of people who have been living here for many years with jobs, families, and deep roots in our country.

Help Newcomers Assimilate Into Our Society. We will honor the American tradition of the melting pot and help immigrants assimilate by learning our history, our values, and the English language.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/new ... 191495.htm

Posted on Thu, Aug. 03, 2006

Local sheriff glad for visit but unimpressed

LYNN BREZOSKY
Associated Press

MISSION, Texas - The sheriff in charge of the Rio Grande park President Bush chose for touting his immigration reform plan made sure he was among the local officials and invited guests present for the presidential visit.

But Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino walked away from Bush's immigration reform speech Thursday "truly disappointed."

"I don't know how he can call it a comprehensive plan when he has absolutely left out local law enforcement," he said. "The reality of it is local law enforcement is encumbered by having to clean up the federal government's mess for failing to secure the border."

Not everyone walked away from the sweltering park unhappy with the speech.

McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez has criticized Bush for not allocating funds to the staff, maintain, and expand the bridges that serve legal immigrants, travelers, and international business people.

Thursday, he said, "I think that will come."

Earlier this month, sheriff's deputies faced 200 to 300 rounds of automatic gunfire from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande.

Last week, Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzales told a state Homeland Security hearing the drug gangs in Mexico were trying to scare them away from the Texas side to free routes for smuggling drugs and people.

Gonzales said the deputies' weapons were like water guns compared to what the gang members had.

Texas border sheriffs have been relying on shots of state money under Gov. Rick Perry's Operation Linebacker to pay for overtime and obtain better equipment to address the increasing threat. The day after Gonzales' testimony, Perry announced an additional $3.8 million for the program, for a total of $10 million since December.

Perry, who introduced Bush Thursday, has said he was jumping in to address a problem that has been simmering long before Bush took office and that he didn't blame the president for the shortage of resources on the Texas border.

While Bush spoke of boosting the Border Patrol and already adding 1,500 beds for non-Mexican immigrant detainees, Trevino said there was nothing to help the sheriffs deal with dangerous foreign gang members and other criminals.

Mexican Mayor Francisco Cabeza de Vaca, whose city of Reynosa is just across the river, said he was pleased to hear the president talk of a path toward citizenship and legal work programs for the many who need to work in the United States.

He said he appreciated the symbolism of the speech being right on the river.

"He decided to speak right on the Rio Grande," he said. "You can see Mexico."

Maybe the sheriff could persuade the shrub to ride along with officers for a few days so he could see his "good folks" up close and personal.