Democrats urge immigration changes

[papau]

From Democrats.com -Democrats Offer Concrete, Workable Alternative to Bush's Disastrously Vague 'Guest Worker' Plan -Bush's proposed "guest worker" plan is so vague and difficult to enforce that it has already given rise to serious new problems, including scams and new waves of illegal immigrants across the nation's already beleaguered borders http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2003/national/20030612025046.shtml). The Democrats have now proposed a concrete alternative that "would offer green cards and permanent resident status to all immigrants who have been in the United States at least five years, can prove they have worked at least 24 months, and have passed background and medical checks." It would thus make it harder to import so-called guest workers, but would open the path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country. Bush would allow illegal immigrants to become legal temporary workers, but without a promise of green cards or citizenship" - a scheme guaranteed to insure migrants remain heavily exploited second class citizens.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/05/02/democrats_urge_immigration_changes/

Democrats urge immigration changes
Differences seen from Bush plan
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Los Angeles Times | May 2, 2004

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats, playing catch-up with President Bush's guest worker proposal, plan to introduce an ambitious immigration restructuring bill Tuesday that would put millions of illegal immigrants on the path to citizenship but restrict the entry of future workers.<snip>

The two proposals take sharply different approaches: The Democrats would make it harder to import so-called guest workers, but would open the path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country. Bush would allow illegal immigrants to become legal temporary workers, but without a promise of green cards or citizenship.<snip>

Kerry has endorsed the concept of ''earned legalization," an amnesty for illegal immigrants who are established, working, and have passed a background check.<snip>

Bush has proposed a broad guest worker program that would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the country as long as six years. Like a funnel with a wide opening and a narrow spout, however, it would let only a few progress to green cards and citizenship. Bush has said he would support a reasonable increase in the number of available green cards, but has not said by how much.<snip>

The Democrats' guest worker program would be more restrictive than Bush's, and is likely to prove unacceptable to business groups.

[fjm03]

1. The real threat

Unregulated Mexican immigration represents a far greater threat to our national economy than anything that extreme Islam has or probably will do.

California alone spends about $30B annually to meet the demands of the consequences of illegal immigration. If you combine just California's expenses with the estimated $15B in cash exported to Mexico annualy you've exceeded the annual cost of the Department of Homeland Security.

[hang a left]

2. Exactly, how is that?

"Unregulated Mexican immigration represents a far greater threat to our national economy than anything that extreme Islam has or probably will do."

[Bridget Burke]

4. Then Californians should stop hiring them.

They would not come if there was no work. Throw some of the illegal employers in jail if you really want to stop the workers coming.

What's the source of your figures? Some details would surely help.

The workers contribute to the economy as well. By doing their work. And by spending money; they buy food, pay rent, etc. If they choose to send some home--it's their money. Did you ever hear of "The American Letter"? It was what the Irish called letters from relatives over here--money was enclosed. Estimates of $6 million sent in the late 19th century--figure not adjusted upward for inflation.

[Quetzal]

3. As long as there is a process

where the waiting time to become a citizen becomes shorter, that is fine with me :-)