Thread: Bush immigration "reform" offensive under way

Bush immigration "reform" offensive under way

By Chris Kelly · October 18, 2005 03:56 PM

http://michellemalkin.com/immigration/2 ... 8/03:56.pm

The Bush administration seems to be conducting an offensive to get "comprehensive" immigration "reform", including a "Temporary Worker Program". That's the new term for their "guest" worker program.

To see what this looks like at ground-level, check out the guest list at today's Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Fixing a Broken System confab from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It features First Data (owners of Western Union), Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods... More on that here.

And, DHS head Michael Chertoff testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. You should take news coverage of this with a huge grain of salt.

First, from Drudge, come these headlines in red:

HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF: EXPEL ALL ILLEGALS... 'Our goal is to return every single illegal entrant, no exceptions'...

Those headlines and the first two paragraphs of the AFP article Drudge references are wrong. Read Chertoff's prepared remarks here: dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=45&content=4890

He wasn't referring to deporting all illegal aliens. He was in fact only referring to those OTMs ("Other than Mexicans") caught at the border. Most of them are given a notice to appear and released into the U.S. and never heard from again. He pledged to end that "catch and release" by adding new detention space.

And:

The Cabinet officials emphasized that the president strongly opposed an amnesty for illegal aliens, and Chertoff agreed with Kennedy that trying to deport all illegal immigrants would not be possible. "It would take billions and billions and billions of dollars to do it," Chertoff said.
Shades of Asa Hutchinson. And, from his prepared remarks:

Ending illegal immigration means both tough enforcement and action to reduce the very demand that draws illegal migrants into the country. Therefore, our strategy of reforming our immigration system is a three-pillar, comprehensive approach that focuses on controlling the border, building a robust interior enforcement program, and establishing a Temporary Worker Program.

That's the new word for their "guest" worker program. A question: what happens when those "temporary" workers have U.S. citizen children? Does anyone in their right mind think that we would be able to deport mixed families if they don't want to return?

Can't you just imagine Sen. Teddy Kennedy joining with Rep. Nancy Pelosi to propose an "adjustment" of their status allowing these millions of formerly "temporary" workers to stay here permanently?

Isn't anyone who would call them "Temporary" workers just lying to you?

Please attempt to counter Bush's offensive with one of your own: contact your representatives and tell them just to enforce the laws.

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