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Fair
and Secure Immigration Reform
Proposal
of President George W. Bush
President George W. Bush today presented a proposal that signals
the beginning of what will surely become a national debate on immigration
reform.
His "temporary worked program" would certainly effect
the lifestyles of many Angelenos, and even more Southern Californians,
and his proposals about documentation would, he says, assist in
reducing the flow of undesirable people crossing into this country
whose real purpose is terrorism.
President Bush characterized the plan as making the national immigration
policy "more rational and more humane."
The program would effect millions of current "illegal aliens"
(estimated at between 8 - 12 million) and the debate about how to
proceed, coming in a Presidential election year, will be a loud
one, and may go on a long time.
Los Angeles and all of California will play a significant role.
Here are the official salient points of his proposal, as described
by the White House:
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Fair
and Secure Immigration Reform
January 7, 2004
Today's Presidential Action
Today, President Bush proposed a new temporary worker program
to match willing foreign workers with willing U.S. employers
when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs. The program
would be open to new foreign workers, and to the undocumented
men and women currently employed in the U.S. This new program
would allow workers who currently hold jobs to come out of hiding
and participate legally in America's economy while not encouraging
further illegal behavior.
President Bush also asked Congress to work with him to achieve
significant immigration reform that protects the homeland by
controlling the borders; serves America's economy by matching
a willing worker with a willing employer; promotes compassion
for unprotected workers; provides incentives for temporary workers
to return to their home countries and families; protects the
rights of legal immigrants while not unfairly rewarding those
who came here unlawfully or hope to do so. This legislation
must also meet the Nation's economic needs and live up to the
promise and values of America.
Background on Today's Presidential Action
America is a welcoming nation, and the hard work and strength
of our immigrants have made our Nation prosperous. Many immigrants
and sons and daughters of immigrants have joined the military
to help safeguard the liberty of America. Illegal immigration,
however, creates an underclass of workers, afraid and vulnerable
to exploitation. Current immigration law can also hinder companies
from finding willing workers. The visas now available do not
allow employers to fill jobs in many key sectors of our economy.
Workers risk their lives in dangerous and illegal border crossings
and are consigned to live their lives in the shadows.
Without harming the economic security of Americans, reform of
our Nation's immigration laws will create a system that is fairer,
more consistent, and more compassionate.
Principles
of Immigration Reform
The President's proposal is based on several basic principles:
Protecting the Homeland by Controlling Our Borders: The
program should link to efforts to control our border through
agreements with countries whose nationals participate in the
program. It must support ongoing efforts to enhance homeland
security.
Serve America's Economy by Matching a Willing Worker with a
Willing Employer: When no American worker is available and
willing to take a job, the program should provide a labor supply
for American employers. It should do so in a way that is clear,
streamlined, and efficient so people can find jobs and employers
can find workers in a timely manner.
Promoting Compassion: The program should grant currently
working undocumented aliens a temporary worker status to prevent
exploitation. Participants would be issued a temporary worker
card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their
home and the U.S. without fear of being denied re-entry into
America.
Providing Incentives for Return to Home Country: The
program will require the return of temporary workers to their
home country after their period of work has concluded. The legal
status granted by this program would last three years, be renewable,
and would have an end. During the temporary work period, it
should allow movement across the U.S. borders so the worker
can maintain roots in their home country.
Protecting the Rights of Legal Immigrants: The program
should not connect participation to a green card or citizenship.
However, it should not preclude a participant from obtaining
green card status through the existing process. It should not
permit undocumented workers to gain an advantage over those
who have followed the rules.
Temporary
Worker Program
President Bush does not support amnesty because individuals
who violate America's laws should not be rewarded for illegal
behavior and because amnesty perpetuates illegal immigration.
The President proposes that the Federal Government offer temporary
worker status to undocumented men and women now employed in
the United States and to those in foreign countries who have
been offered employment here. The workers under temporary status
must pay a one-time fee to register in the program, abide by
the rules, and return home after their period of work expires.
There would be an opportunity for renewal. In the future, only
people outside the U.S. may join the temporary worker program,
and there will be an orderly system in place to address the
needs of workers and companies.
American Workers Come First: Employers must make every
reasonable effort to find an American to fill a job before extending
job offers to foreign workers.
Workplace Enforcement of Immigration Laws: Enforcement
against companies that break the law and hire illegal workers
will increase.
Economic Incentives to Return Home: The U.S. will work
with other countries to allow aliens working in the U.S. to
receive credit in their nations' retirement systems and will
support the creation of tax-preferred savings accounts they
can collect when they return to their native countries.
Fair and Meaningful Citizenship Process: Some temporary
workers will want to remain in America and pursue citizenship.
They should not receive an unfair advantage over those who have
followed the law, and they will need to be placed in line for
citizenship behind those who are already in line. Those who
choose the path of citizenship will have an obligation to learn
the facts and ideals that have shaped America's history.
Reasonable Annual Increase of Legal Immigrants: A reasonable
increase in the annual limit of legal immigrants will benefit
those who follow the lawful path to citizenship.
Benefits
to America of the Temporary Worker Program
A more prosperous economy -- for America. The program would
allow workers to find jobs and employers to find workers, quickly
and simply. A more secure homeland -- to improve the efficiency
and management of all people who cross our borders. It is in
the interest of the Nation, and each community, to identify
foreign visitors and immigrants and make clear the nature of
their intentions. A more compassionate system -- to protect
all workers in America with labor laws, the right to change
jobs, fair wages, and a healthy work environment.
Homeland
Security and Border Enforcement
Border Patrol has increased from a strength of 9,788 on September
11, 2001 to 10,835 on December 1, 2003. Between ports of entry
on the northern border, the size of the Border Patrol has tripled
to more than 1,000 agents. In addition, the Border Patrol is
continuing installation of monitoring devices along the borders
to detect illegal activity. The Bush Administration's Operation
Tarmac was launched to investigate businesses and workers in
the secure areas of domestic airports and ensure immigration
law compliance. Since 9/11, DHS has audited 3,640 businesses,
examined 259,037 employee records, arrested 1,030 unauthorized
workers, and participated in the criminal indictment of 774
individuals.
President Bush announced the Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System (SEVIS), an internet-based system that is improving America's
ability to track and monitor foreign students and exchange visitors.
Over 870,000 students are registered in SEVIS. Of 285 completed
field investigations, 71 aliens were arrested. This week, the
US-VISIT program began to digitally collect biometric identifiers
to record the entry and exit of aliens who travel into the U.S
on a visa.
Together with the standard information, this new program will
confirm compliance with visa and immigration policies.
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Visit the official White House website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
Full
text of the President's speech
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