Immigration Rising on Bush's To-Do List

These White House keep doing a lot of talking, but I don't see any walking. The greater problem is that these sort of stories running in the media serve as advertisement for illegals. Come soon, come all, and get in so you can benefit from an amnesty! I'm not saying this is what it is, but it sure sounds like it when they don't give a lot of details, do a lot of talking, and I don't see any enforcement of our current laws! Stop playing politics Mr. President. Do your job.

The effort is designed to help Bush take control of an increasingly contentious debate that has threatened to split the Republican Party and undermine its outreach to Latino voters. Although the White House has not laid out details for a plan, in January 2004 Bush proposed a guest-worker program that would be open to many illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and to prospective workers abroad.

As I have said, fix the legal immigration process first. Make it so the American economy can benefit from all these hard working individuals that are honest, have no criminal background, and are in need of an honest living--if they have entered legally.

This kind of all-encompassing talk of undocumented workers presenting a security threat is nonsense, racists, and all it does is divide our country. There is a difference between the real and present danger of terrorists getting into our country, and the problem of illegal immigration. I understand that this is a problem, and in many ways, that facilitates the entrance of terrorists. But, these individuals, illegal latinos, are not the same as terrorists--with the exception of Latino gang members that keep coming in again and again after deportation. Those need to get the full force of the law for their crimes.

A guest-worker program is favored by many Latinos and by businesses, many of them major GOP donors that depend on a steady flow of workers from Mexico and other countries. The White House effort is aimed at satisfying these groups while promoting tougher border security enforcement. The latter focus is an attempt to mollify a vocal bloc of cultural conservatives in the GOP — some in the House leadership — who argue that undocumented workers present a security threat and take some jobs that could be filled by Americans.

What I want to know is what sort of jobs are they taking away from Americans? What are we so afraid of? A little competition? Maybe that will convince more American youth to stay in school and be hard working, instead of sucking of from mom and dad who don't have the guts to tell them to move out and get a job!

Again, this is different from illegal immigrants that are abused by employers that pay below what is fair simply because they are undocumented. That is why the border security and the immigration mess must be fixed. Lives are at stake.

Referring to the Latino vote, which turned out in larger numbers last year for Bush than in his 2000 campaign, Holt added: "There are great opportunities for Republicans, and also dangers if we don't handle this properly."

The GOP is missing this one. They turned out in large numbers to vote because of the values issue. Moral values! That is moral integrity that translates into a strong government and a strong economy and strong opportunities for a more secure future.

Most legal, voting Latinos, I would bet, are committed to the rule of law, and to border security. They don't want to encourage more illegal immigration. They do want the process to be fair, open, and quick. Mr. President, if you want to unify Latinos, simplify the process for immigrants to enter into this country legally. Specially in the case of those that already have legal relatives in the country. Provide incentives for illegals to return home, and then give them a way to enter the US to find work in a secure, accountable, and cost-effective way.