What should be done about illegal immigration?

Okay, so every illegal is a homegrown terrorist.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Immigration Reform Bill Likely to Feature a Guest Worker Program

By Michael Coleman

Copyright © 2007 Albuquerque Journal; Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON?- A bipartisan group of a dozen senators?- including Pete Domenici of New Mexico?- is working behind closed doors to craft a new immigration reform proposal that could have an expanded guest worker program as its centerpiece.
Domenici, a Republican, said in an interview that the group, led by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., is hoping to develop a measure that could come to the floor within days.
"I believe there is a chance we will get a bill that will be put together and offered?- and this will not be put together by just two or three people," Domenici told the Journal.
If the group does not reach consensus, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he would use legislation introduced last year as a starting point for new floor debate.
The House and Senate tried to reach agreement on immigration reform before the midterm elections in 2006. President Bush, who has dispatched Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to many of the private Senate meetings, wants Congress to try again.
Democratic Senate aides said Tuesday that negotiators from both parties are working in good faith, but the aides were skeptical that the Senate group could forge an agreement that Reid would agree to as a first step.
Domenici said the Senate group, in recent talks, has considered scrapping the idea of a so-called path to citizenship from last year's legislation in favor of an expanded guest worker program.
Some members of Congress have proposed allowing the estimated 12 million undocumented workers already in the U.S. to remain and earn citizenship without being deported first if they meet certain requirements, such as paying fines and back taxes and learning English.
"It will be one or the other, but not both," said Domenici, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
Even the expanded guest worker proposal might be put off until more border enforcement mechanisms are in place, which could take at least two years, Domenici's chief of staff confirmed.
However, Domenici and Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said efforts to increase border security are well under way since last year's debate.
Domenici said the proposed guest worker program under discussion would allow illegal workers already in the U.S. to apply for a temporary legal guest worker permit under terms similar to the former "path to citizenship" proposals. Those terms could include paying back taxes and passing a citizenship test, his office confirmed.
The permit might be valid for two, three or four years and would be renewable, he said. Such a program could reduce calls to give undocumented workers a path to citizenship, Domenici predicted.
"The overwhelming majority (of undocumented workers) will say that's good enough," he said.
The Democrat-controlled House plans to wait for Senate action before it takes up the issue, members of New Mexico's House delegation said last week.
Pearce, a Republican who represents New Mexico's southern border area, also said a guest worker program that brings millions of illegal workers out of the shadows would satisfy many.
"A lot of them, their intent is not to become citizens. They just want to feed their family," Pearce said.
Pearce and Rep. Heather Wilson, also a New Mexico Republican, oppose allowing undocumented workers already in the U.S. to stay while awaiting citizenship. Both support expanding guest worker programs.
"I don't think it's right to allow people to come here illegally, when there are tens of thousands who have been waiting to come here legally," Wilson said in an interview.
Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., supports a path to citizenship for illegal workers as the most realistic option for getting massive numbers of them out of the shadow economy and onto the tax rolls. But he said they should have to pay fines and meet other criteria.
"If there is going to be earned citizenship, you'd have to pay your back taxes," Udall said.
Udall said he also supports expanded guest worker programs.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., last year persuaded the Senate to reduce the number of proposed guest worker permits for people not yet living in the U.S., but applying to come, from 400,000 to 200,000 annually. He said he would propose that again if a Senate bill comes to the floor.
The proposal under consideration by Senate negotiators would allow up to a half-million more guest workers who are currently not in the U.S. to come and fill jobs, Domenici's office said.
Other difficult issues in the negotiations are a proposal to curb the ability of legalized immigrants to bring family members into the U.S., and to prohibit temporary workers from bringing family if they don't have health insurance or meet income requirements. Both proposals are opposed by many pro-immigrant groups.
Bingaman said he expects plenty of debate on how many family members can accompany a guest worker.
"There is some value in continuing to support the reunification of families, but then the question is how large a group does that cover," Bingaman said.

"Well, I can tell you this. If we reported it, it's a fact," Dobbs replies.

"You can't tell me that. You did report it," Stahl says.

"I just did," Dobbs says.

"How can you guarantee that to me?" Stahl asks.

Says Dobbs, "Because I'm the managing editor. And that's the way we do business. We don't make up numbers, Lesley."

EDITORIAL

Eyes on the road, please

May 9, 2007

Undocumented immigrant drivers are learning to steer clear of Waukegan, where a routine traffic stop can cost more than their cars are worth. If the driver doesn't have a license -- and those who are here illegally can't get one -- then the vehicle is impounded. To get it back, the owner pays $500, plus $170 for towing and $35 a day for storage.

It's a nice little moneymaker for the city, which has towed 8,000 vehicles since 2004. But city officials insist the goal is to ensure public safety. Unlicensed drivers are a danger to themselves and others. And they can't get insurance, so if they're involved in an accident, someone else ends up paying for the damage.

Tens of thousands of immigrants are believed to be driving without licenses in the state. They've never been tested to prove they know the rules of the road or how to operate a vehicle safely. They don't have insurance. But those obstacles haven't prevented them from getting behind the wheel, putting themselves and others at risk.

So let them drive legally. The Illinois House of Representatives has passed a bill that would allow people who have no Social Security number to supply other documents and get a "driver's certificate" instead of a license. The certificate could not be used for boarding a plane or buying a firearm. It would simply allow them to drive legally. They would have to pass the usual tests and buy insurance. The certificate would be revoked if they didn't get insurance within 30 days.

The measure is running into trouble in the Senate, where some supporters have hit the brakes because of angry feedback from their constituents. "This issue has lit up my phones like no other issue in years," said Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont).

A South Elgin man who testified before a Senate committee said passing such a bill amounted to "aiding and abetting criminals." That echoed the words of Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. (R-Mundelein), who voted against the measure in the House: "I don't believe we should reward people for being here illegally," he said.

Don't think of it as rewarding illegal immigrants. Think of it as protecting them and everybody else. Some may still drive illegally, as do some citizens. But most of the immigrants will learn the rules of the road and get insurance so they can drive with a certificate. It works that way in tax law: Given the chance to operate on the right side of the law, 70 percent of illegal workers regularly pay taxes using a taxpayer identification number.

The immigration system needs an overhaul so that the workers we need don't have to come here illegally, and Congress is working on that.

The Illinois General Assembly, meanwhile, should keep its eyes on the road. It's in everyone's best interests for immigrants to be able to drive safely and legally. Even in Waukegan.
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

From today's Albuquerque Journal (frontpage and page A2, online version)

Quote:

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Immigration Reform Bill Likely to Feature a Guest Worker Program

By Michael Coleman

Copyright © 2007 Albuquerque Journal; Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON?- A bipartisan group of a dozen senators?- including Pete Domenici of New Mexico?- is working behind closed doors to craft a new immigration reform proposal that could have an expanded guest worker program as its centerpiece.
Domenici, a Republican, said in an interview that the group, led by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., is hoping to develop a measure that could come to the floor within days.
"I believe there is a chance we will get a bill that will be put together and offered?- and this will not be put together by just two or three people," Domenici told the Journal.
If the group does not reach consensus, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he would use legislation introduced last year as a starting point for new floor debate.
The House and Senate tried to reach agreement on immigration reform before the midterm elections in 2006. President Bush, who has dispatched Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to many of the private Senate meetings, wants Congress to try again.
Democratic Senate aides said Tuesday that negotiators from both parties are working in good faith, but the aides were skeptical that the Senate group could forge an agreement that Reid would agree to as a first step.
Domenici said the Senate group, in recent talks, has considered scrapping the idea of a so-called path to citizenship from last year's legislation in favor of an expanded guest worker program.
Some members of Congress have proposed allowing the estimated 12 million undocumented workers already in the U.S. to remain and earn citizenship without being deported first if they meet certain requirements, such as paying fines and back taxes and learning English.
"It will be one or the other, but not both," said Domenici, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
Even the expanded guest worker proposal might be put off until more border enforcement mechanisms are in place, which could take at least two years, Domenici's chief of staff confirmed.
However, Domenici and Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said efforts to increase border security are well under way since last year's debate.
Domenici said the proposed guest worker program under discussion would allow illegal workers already in the U.S. to apply for a temporary legal guest worker permit under terms similar to the former "path to citizenship" proposals. Those terms could include paying back taxes and passing a citizenship test, his office confirmed.
The permit might be valid for two, three or four years and would be renewable, he said. Such a program could reduce calls to give undocumented workers a path to citizenship, Domenici predicted.
"The overwhelming majority (of undocumented workers) will say that's good enough," he said.
The Democrat-controlled House plans to wait for Senate action before it takes up the issue, members of New Mexico's House delegation said last week.
Pearce, a Republican who represents New Mexico's southern border area, also said a guest worker program that brings millions of illegal workers out of the shadows would satisfy many.
"A lot of them, their intent is not to become citizens. They just want to feed their family," Pearce said.
Pearce and Rep. Heather Wilson, also a New Mexico Republican, oppose allowing undocumented workers already in the U.S. to stay while awaiting citizenship. Both support expanding guest worker programs.
"I don't think it's right to allow people to come here illegally, when there are tens of thousands who have been waiting to come here legally," Wilson said in an interview.
Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., supports a path to citizenship for illegal workers as the most realistic option for getting massive numbers of them out of the shadow economy and onto the tax rolls. But he said they should have to pay fines and meet other criteria.
"If there is going to be earned citizenship, you'd have to pay your back taxes," Udall said.
Udall said he also supports expanded guest worker programs.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., last year persuaded the Senate to reduce the number of proposed guest worker permits for people not yet living in the U.S., but applying to come, from 400,000 to 200,000 annually. He said he would propose that again if a Senate bill comes to the floor.
The proposal under consideration by Senate negotiators would allow up to a half-million more guest workers who are currently not in the U.S. to come and fill jobs, Domenici's office said.
Other difficult issues in the negotiations are a proposal to curb the ability of legalized immigrants to bring family members into the U.S., and to prohibit temporary workers from bringing family if they don't have health insurance or meet income requirements. Both proposals are opposed by many pro-immigrant groups.
Bingaman said he expects plenty of debate on how many family members can accompany a guest worker.
"There is some value in continuing to support the reunification of families, but then the question is how large a group does that cover," Bingaman said.

They were invited; by their hirings for jobs in the US, they were technically "invited." Americans hired them.

To be a guest, don't you have to be invited? Last time I check we didn't invite people who broke the law with their very presence in our country.

Baldimo wrote:

To be a guest, don't you have to be invited? Last time I check we didn't invite people who broke the law with their very presence in our country.

If you refer here to "guest" in the term 'guest worker program', I suggest that you get informed of that.

None of the illegals here are guests. Their criminals plain and simple. Once again guests are invited and they were not invited. A guest worker program which doesn't exist right now would still require us to offer jobs and invite the "guests" in to work the jobs. Just letting them into the country to find a job is silly and I hope it doesn't go that direction.

au wrote: CI
Who invited the 12 to 20 million who slipped across the border and never left?

The US government, by not enforcing laws they themselves made into law.

cicerone imposter wrote:

au wrote: CI
Who invited the 12 to 20 million who slipped across the border and never left?

The US government, by not enforcing laws they themselves made into law.

where in the constitution can I find the paragraph that allows laws to be broken if they are not enforced. I am having trouble finding it. CI can you help?