Addressing Immigration Without Comprehensive Reform
By Bluey Posted in Immigration — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
More than a month after comprehensive immigration reform died in the Senate, the Bush Administration has responded with a 26-point plan to improve border security within the existing confines of the law. President Bush announced the reforms today and the White House released a fact sheet detailing them.
These reforms represent steps my Administration can take within the boundaries of existing law to better secure our borders, improve worksite enforcement, streamline existing temporary worker programs, and help new immigrants assimilate into American society.
Although the Congress has not addressed our broken immigration system by passing comprehensive reform legislation, my Administration will continue to take every possible step to build upon the progress already made in strengthening our borders, enforcing our worksite laws, keeping our economy well-supplied with vital workers, and helping new Americans learn English.
Read on . . .
Conservatives who were displeased with the administration's support of the Senate bill earlier this year should be heartened by this new proposal. It incorporates some of the very policies we've wanted and puts them in place without a confrontation with Congress. My colleague Matt Spalding explains why this plan is the right approach:
With well implemented measures, such as the Administration's initiative, and lots of old-fashioned perseverance, the U.S. can achieve a comprehensive solution in a reasonable amount of time.
After the immigration debacle in Congress, lawmakers need to regain the trust and confidence of the American people while meeting their solemn obligations to keep the nation safe, prosperous, and free. The Bush Administration's new initiative is a major step in the right direction.
Spalding has also recorded a short video to summarize what's happening and why it should work.
Reaction across the conservative spectrum appears favorable. Mitt Romney, who is preparing for tomorrow's Iowa straw poll, was the first 2008 contender to praise the new approach. It's also won the backing of Sen. Jon Kyl (R.-Ariz.), the conservative who lobbied for comprehensive reform, and received a favorable response from House Minority Leader John Boehner (R.-Ohio.).
Is it my imagination or has Bush relocated his big boy pants? It seems like over the last couple of weeks he has made a turn toward the right and is doing some really good things--like this move on immigration. He has also made credible veto threats on spending. Of course the big one was the FISA update where he showed some backbone.
A strong Bush is good for 2008 (and good for the country now).
And a strong Bush will be meaningless for '08. So will a weak Bush.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
Even though Bush will not be on the ticket, what the Republican President does still effects the perceptions of the electorate. If Bush is strong, then the Republicans will be viewed as strong.
Granted, a good candidate overcomes a lot of the perceptions. But wouldn't it be nice if you were a Republican running for a House seat if the Republicans were presiding over a successful Iraq strategy, a border that is being secured, and spending that is being held in check?
Even if Bush is a late-comer to the dance, it would be a "good thing".
Let's see him follow through. Then we'll only be left wondering .. where has he been on this for the last six years. If Bush had made a strong push to curb illegal immigration starting in early 2005, we'd be looking at a GOP congress right now and a much stronger run at 2008.
Still no reason to believe a single word anyone in the Bush Administration says concerning the enforcement of immigration laws. They've had six and a-half years, which they used to deliberately NOT enforce the law while our illegal population increased by millions. Then we were told the only way to solve the problem was to grant amnesty to 12 - 20 million illegals, plus millions more they'd eventually be able to bring into the US.
I think they should spend about eighteen months doing nothing but enforcing the law, without a single word about regularization/legalization/amnesty/or other liar's ruses. We also need no more H1B increases until that corrupt program is fully investigated, and no changes in ag programs or other 'temporary' worker programs.
Bush, for the first time in his administration, should do NOTHING but enforce the existing law, and let the presidential candidates have a real debate about what our immigration policies should be now and in the future, with much input from the American citizens.
the message that was sent to all Border Patrol agents with the fraudulent prosecution of Ramos and Campean. BushCo can make all the pretty speeches about enforcement they want, but the rubber meets the road with individual BP agents, who have families to support and their own freedom to cherish.
They know the price of actually carrying out robust border enforcement: immunity granted to drug-smuggling border jumpers, exonerating evidence and testimony suppressed, vigorous prosecution by a parachuted-in FreindOfBush, and a kangaroo court conviction with an excessive sentence to a prison populated by people who want them shived.
No, you won't see any ACTUAL border enforcement coming from these proposals; the BP agents aren't stupid enough to listen to Bush's words and ignore his actions. Even if some of US are.
Don't buy what Bush is selling until Ramos and Campean are out of prison and their records cleared.
Personally, I hope the Dems shoot it down. I hope they spend months debating it, and the Dems shoot it down. Let Hillary!® or Obama go into the general election after the Dems killed border security. More than the phone system will melt down when the voters get finished.
But, hey, if a surge works in Iraq, maybe it will work here?
The Dems had a great time splitting the Republican party a few months ago, now it is time to force them to support tough border enforcement, which many do not like. I can't wait to see how Hillary and Obama and various Dems up re-election squirm around on this thing. Immigration has potential to be a HUGE issue for Republicans in 2008. The vast majority of the country is in favor of enforcement first measures.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”