Let me start out by saying I support the President in the GWOT 100%. But as far as illegal immigration is concerned, the President’s speech was just another shell game. Lets take a look at some of the President’s Speech.
This one statement is the one major statement I agree with made by the President. (Hat tip: The White House)
First, the United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign nation. It is also an urgent requirement of our national security. Our objective is straightforward: The border should be open to trade and lawful immigration, and shut to illegal immigrants, as well as criminals, drug dealers, and terrorists.
Bush is absolutely right, for us to remain a sovereign nation, we MUST secure our borders. For us to remain a free nation we must protect ourselves from those coming across the border who wish to do us harm. This is a national security issue, it is that important.
The men and women of our Border Patrol are doing a fine job in difficult circumstances…
Our Border Patrol is doing an outstanding job. Unfortunately they are undermanned. President Bush’s plan to increase the size of the Border Patrol by an additional 6000 officers is a good first step, but only a first step. He also mentioned using technology, which is helpful. If we can build a manned fence between North and South Korea, why can’t we build a fence at certain areas of our southern border? Just a thought.
President Bush wants to secure the border by deploying 6000 national guard troops along the border. We all know this is not enough to do any good. But when Ms. Townsend briefed the press before President Bush’s speech, this is what she had to say about the troops. (Hat tip: Powerline)
MS. TOWNSEND: The Guard — again, I come back to, you’re not going to see Guardsmen on the border doing apprehensions.
So the Guardsmen are at the border to do….paperwork? If you are going to secure the border, then get serious and secure the border with enough Guardsmen to do the job properly. This would not militarize the border, Mexico has already done that.
President Bush also wants to end the so called ‘catch and release’ program which affects those not from Mexico. In the past when the Border Patrol captured an illegal alien from someplace other than mexico, the alien would be released with their promise they would return for their court date. They almost never returned. All I can say is, its about time this practice was ended.
I will not comment on the ‘guest worker’ program. I did not want to hear this in the President’s speech, but there it was for all to see. But take a look at this from the Bush speech.
I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers toenter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time. This program would match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing. Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass criminal background checks. And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
How are you planning on enforcing this ‘temporary’ measure? Do these workers have to visit their probation officer much like someone on parole to make sure these aliens really have a job?
I actually agree with giving these workers a ‘tamperproof’ ID card, if there is such a thing and if we are to have ‘guest’ workers. But the President insists that it would be impossible to deport those already here. He wants to allow those illegal aliens who have a job and who have put down roots to pay a fine, pay their back taxes, learn English, and then they can become a citizen after waiting in line behind everyone else already in line. But my understanding, this affects only those who have been in this country for more than two years. What happens to those who have been in this country for less than two years? How do you prove someone has been here for more than two years? Since many of these illegal aliens use false documents to gain employment, wouldn’t these illegals possibly use even more false documents to prove they have been here for longer than two years? I can almost hear the presses running now.
The President had a chance to really show he is taking a stand with the American people. Instead he has once again chosen to ride the fence trying to placate both sides of the immigration issue. In the end both are unhappy, especially the anti-illegal immigration crowd. Riding the fence as long as he has, it seems to me the President would be a little sore by now. We may see this soreness borne by the Republican party come the election of 2006.
Tags: President Bush, Immigration, Politics by Chuck
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