"I
oppose amnesty," said President George W. Bush in his speech
before a group of border enforcement personnel at Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. He also said, "Our
responsibility is clear...We
are going to protect the border…We're going to expand interior
repatriation...We want to make
it clear when they (illegal
immigrants) violate U.S. immigration laws they are going
to be sent home and they are going to stay at home."
In
brief,
here is a summary of the President's remarks
outlining his new policy on illegal immigration. Citing
successes by the border patrol, such as catching over 1,000 illegal
gang members, over 2,000 smugglers, and the increase of funds and
agents on the border since September 11, 2001, the President outlined
a new three part plan to address America's illegal immigration
problems. His speech and plan will definitely be the topic of debate
on talk shows this week.
Bush's Plan:
1) Return all illegals back across the border - through Interior Re-Repatriation to their home towns far from the border. Sited success when implemented: only 8% cross the border again. Non-Mexican illegals are detained, but not enough beds at detention centers, thus 4 out of 5 that are caught are released into society and only given a date to appear in court date: 75% don't show up. This 'catch & release' policy has been in place for decades and the President said it "is going to end." Will change to a 'catch and return' policy, as will expand detention facilities as well as expediting removal of non-Mexican illegals faster (within 30 days).
1) Return all illegals back across the border - through Interior Re-Repatriation to their home towns far from the border. Sited success when implemented: only 8% cross the border again. Non-Mexican illegals are detained, but not enough beds at detention centers, thus 4 out of 5 that are caught are released into society and only given a date to appear in court date: 75% don't show up. This 'catch & release' policy has been in place for decades and the President said it "is going to end." Will change to a 'catch and return' policy, as will expand detention facilities as well as expediting removal of non-Mexican illegals faster (within 30 days).
2) Correct/enforce existing immigration
laws - cited the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which ruled that
illegals can re-argue their cases as often as they want; and that
businesses must abide by immigration laws. To help with this he
proposed a new temporary worker plan where 'honest workers' can
register for a legal worker's permit for a set period of time and then
sent home. Also, is proposing a new tamper-proof ID card which he says
will document fraud and make it easier for businesses to comply with
the law. He acknowledged there is alot of controversy surrounding such
a card.
3) Stop illegals from crossing the
border in the first place - described the bill he signed last month
that puts 1,000 more agents on the border (most of them will be in
Arizona); $139 million to upgrade technology including the use of
drones to spot and catch illegals; $70 million to install and improve
barriers and fencing.
As
cited by WorldNetDaily,
Dan Stein, president of
the Federation for American
Immigration Reform, said,
"This administration has a sustained track record of ignoring
reality when it conflicts with what the corporate interests want it to
do. The president's plan is nothing more than a massive illegal alien
amnesty on a six year time delay, while his temporary-worker program
– which will be anything but temporary – is the death knell for
America's middle class...Unless
the American people see real, tangible immigration law enforcement in
the interior, no one will believe there is a serious commitment from
this president." His
organization is urging the
administration to back a
"genuine immigration enforcement," as
in H.R. 4313, authored by Reps.
Duncan Hunter and Virgil Goode.