Thread: Our Opinion: Immigration still eludes Bush's grasp

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Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Our Opinion: Immigration still eludes Bush's grasp

Tucson Citizen

Progress on immigration reform must unfortunately be measured in the tiniest of forward steps.
The topic seems to finally be on President Bush's radar screen - a definite move forward. But Bush remains focused almost exclusively on enforcement, with little talk of a long-term and more comprehensive solution - a discouraging step back.

During a Monday visit to the Phoenix area to discuss his Medicare prescription drug plan, Bush was compelled to discuss illegal immigration. The issue would have been impossible to avoid in Arizona - the most popular crossing point on the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I understand it's putting a strain on your resources," Bush said. "It's important for the people of this state to understand, your voices are being heard in Washington, D.C."

A strain on our resources? That's a gross understatement. Arizona taxpayers have been crushed by the impacts of illegal immigration. The state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to hold illegal immigrants in prisons without federal reimbursements. Counties and health-care providers also have been hard hit.

And while it is good that our "voices are being heard," it is discouraging that it has taken so long for immigration to rise up the issue heap in the nation's capital - especially when Bush is the former governor of a border state with substantial illegal immigration problems of its own.

Bush cited enforcement as an effective way to halt illegal immigration, with little or no attention to a comprehensive package built on a guest worker program.

He referred to legislation introduced by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., that calls for more agents on the border and a guest worker program that requires people now here illegally to return to their home countries to register. It's not the needed comprehensive answer.

Far more practical is a bipartisan plan pushed by Sen. John McCain and Rep. Jim Kolbe, both Arizona Republicans, as well as others on both sides of the political aisle. That plan would allow people in the country illegally to stay and pay a fine before registering as guest workers.

A new report released yesterday illustrates the pressing need for comprehensive border-policy reform. Suspected or convicted foreign-born terrorists have routinely exploited immigration laws over the past decade to enter and remain in the United States illegally, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.

We are encouraged that Bush mentioned immigration during his Arizona visit. But now he must move forward and embrace a plan that is both comprehensive and workable.

Talk is cheap! Actions speak louder then words. I'll believe when I see it.

Far more practical is a bipartisan plan pushed by Sen. John McCain and Rep. Jim Kolbe, both Arizona Republicans, as well as others on both sides of the political aisle. That plan would allow people in the country illegally to stay and pay a fine before registering as guest workers.

Just the long version of saying. I want to be a Coyote.

This is what I was concerned about. New one-liners, a drone on the border and nothing more. OBVIOUSLY, I would not expect anything this week, but when we get a grasp on New Orleans in the coming weeks, I sure hope we can go farther than this drone on the border and some new cliches.

At least we know that illegals cannot move into place in New Orleans anytime soon.

I WISH Tom Tancredo or Pat Buchanan or someone would come out and say, that with this catastrophe on our hands, it is INSANE for our country to foot the expense of 18-20 million illegal aliens. You never know, maybe it will become a factor to play out in all of this. To me, I see significant reasons as to why illegal aliens and the borders should be of even more importance at this time. We need the money, we have fuel issues, we are about to have disease issues, relocation of people issues,
security issues, school issues, employment issues, I could go on and on.

I just read what Rakishoner wrote under discussion, about how President Bush would like to be able to disregard illegal immigration, but that he will not be able to now. As Rakishoner stated, talk of "impeachment" even surfaced regarding his handling of the borders just as the hurricane hit, so he will be forced back to the table on this issue. Whew. I like Rakishoner's opinion. I choose to go with it.

That plan would allow people in the country illegally to stay and pay a fine before registering as guest workers.

Yeah, and if he trusts these people enough to believe that they will actually pay the fine he's dumber than I thought. I think he's going to be surprised if and when Kyl-Cornyn shows up on his desk to be signed.

The reason why is because by that time Americans will wake up and realize that our country is being turned into a third world socialist pisspot through illegal immigrants and all the bad stuff that they bring and what they require from the U.S. taxpayer.

I read an article where McCain threw his head back and laughed at the suggestion that all criminal aliens should return to their own countries. Why is this such a funny notion? I think that it's a ridiculous notion to not have such legislation in this day and age. Our country is in dire straits over this, and what seems to be extreme isn't going to be in a few more months

nhantimassredrebel, you just made a very good point. The American people are going to wake up to a lot of things after this, and I have a feeling the general feeling is going to be to care for our country a lot more, now that we see just what a huge disaster can do to us.

By the way, I just heard today that Miami is #2 behind El Paso in having the most children living in poverty. Interesting.