Bush to Push for Immigration Reform, Including Amnesty

Story dated 12 January 2005

"President Bush said he will spend political capital to force a debate in Congress on his immigration reform proposal, adding in an interview published on Wednesday that it will be a big agenda item in his second term." Bush's immigration reform proposal turns upon two policies: first, a guest worker program which would allow Mexicans to come into the country to fill jobs that cannot be filled from the native labor pool, and second, an amnesty to all illegal aliens already here who are already working. I have a problem with Bush's proposal. I have studied immigration law, and I seem to remember something exactly like this 'guest worker' program already in existence. In all fairness, I am in favor of granting special visas to Mexicans who can get hired here, but I think a condition of such a visa be that they be able to speak passable English if they will be here for more than six months at a time -- it's just common courtesy... I would not even think of going to Mexico to live or work without brushing up on my Spanish. But beyond that, I wouldn't care as much if it weren't things like Executive Order 13166 that require the government to spend my tax dollars to accommodate people who live here without speaking English. Anyhow, this is a little off topic. The amnesty is what I have a real problem with. These people are here illegally. If I did something illegal, like not pay the proper amount in taxes, I could go to jail -- and no one would come to my defense and argue about the unfairness to me if the law were actually enforced. Mr. President, take heed: if you reward illegal activity, you are sure to get more of it, not less. It is nonsense to suggest that you can stop undesirable behavior by rewarding it.

posted by The Sovereign Editor | 3:08 PM

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