Thread: The immigration bill: Amnesty is amnesty

The immigration bill: Amnesty is amnesty

Sunday, May 20, 2007


President George W. Bush and other apologists for the U.S. Senate's bipartisan immigration legislation say it's not an amnesty program. But if this proposed pathway to citizenship for the roughly 12 million illegal aliens in the United States is not amnesty, then nothing is amnesty.
The bill, which the Senate will take up on Monday, throws a bone to conservatives by promising improved border security. However, the meat of the scheme is all about the A-word.

There will be a new "Z visa" for illegals who were in this republic before Jan. 1. Immigrants will have to pay fees, a $5,000 fine, learn English and return to their countries for a while to become permanent residents. There also will be a project to legalize about 1.5 million farm workers and a temporary worker program for 400,000 illegals who could work here for up to six years before being required to return to their home countries for a while. The number of high-skill H-1B visas would increase from 65,000 to 115,000 per year.

But does Mr. Bush really care about defending America's flanks? His stunning admission -- "The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our borders, but equally importantly, it will treat people with respect." -- confirms the worst suspicions about Dubya's real priorities.

America's borders and sovereignty must be defended. And this amnesty bill must be defeated.


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 08454.html

Originally Posted by jean

There also will be a project to legalize about 1.5 million farm workers and a temporary worker program for 400,000 illegals who could work here for up to six years before being required to return to their home countries for a while.

I think they mean 400,000 legal workers. What is the big problem with eliminating all the amnesty provisions, and telling the illegals to go back home and apply for some of these 400,000 "termporary worker" spots? Actually I guess if it is 400,000 a year and they can stay for six years that means 2.4 million guest workers would be in the US at any given time. So there is a good chance many of the illegals could go home and get in on this program, what the hell do they need amnesty for?