Bush's Plan for Immigration Reform
 Former
President Bush supported comprehensive immigration reform. Some of his proposals
included: resolve the status of the millions of illegal immigrants already in
the United States, encourage illegal immigrants to assimilate to the U.S. and
learn English, enhance border security, introduce a temporary
guest worker program, and penalize employers for willingly hiring illegal immigrants. Bush also
believed that in order for the immigration problem to be solved, all these
issues must be dealt with simultaneously. The Bush administration did make
progress in enhance border security. For
example, border security
funding increased from nearly $5 billion in 2001 to over $10 billion in 2007. The
number of border patrol agents has also increased from 9,000 to almost 15,000 during the
same time span. By the end of next year, there should be approximately 18,000
border patrol agents. Six-thousand National Guard troops have been called to
temporarily assist the Border Patrol with such duties as intelligence analysis
and improving infrastructure and patrol roads. In addition,
investments in more advanced border technology continue. The increase of
availability of detention beds has reduced the “catch and release” policy previously
employed due to the shortage of beds. Now, however, more illegal immigrants can now be detained.
Other changes include increased
deportations of
illegal immigrants (especially those with criminal
backgrounds) due to a quicker “expedited removal” process. In addition, there is
now greater cooperation among local and state local law enforcement and the
Department of Homeland Security to prevent illegal immigration.
Former President Bush's Proposed
Immigration Legislation
On June 29th the United States Senate squashed the proposed comprehensive
immigration legislation, ending chances for President George W. Bush to pass his
immigration reform plan--a centerpiece of the president's domestic agenda.
Immigration reform supporters garnered just 46 of the 60 votes needed to
conclude debate and proceed to final passage. Sixty senators, including 37 of
Bush's fellow Republicans, voted against it. Most senators said they had no
plans to try to overhaul immigration law before the 2008 presidential election,
so it is unlikely that any major immigration bill will become law until 2009.
The biggest obstacle was to convince conservatives that the path to citizenship
for illegal aliens is not Amnesty. The bill's bitter end has a deeper meaning,
as it demonstrated that conservative Americans’ vision for US immigration reform
should not include any type of amnesty or legalization for undocumented workers.
"This vote effectively kills comprehensive immigration legislation in the 110th
Congress" - said Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren, head of a House
Judiciary subcommittee on immigration.
The measure, the biggest rewrite of U.S. immigration law since 1986, would offer
12 to 20 million illegal immigrants a path to citizenship while tightening the
border with Mexico and creating a guest-worker program to help employers fill
low-paying jobs.
President Bush, who had lobbied Republican senators to support the legislation,
acknowledged defeat, saying that - "Congress's failure to act on it is a
disappointment." The Bush administration is still interested in finding the
solution to the problem of illegal immigration, said Michael Chertoff, Bush's
homeland security secretary who helped draft the legislation. |
The Bush administration also aggressively targeted employers who knowingly hired illegal immigrants.
While there has always
been laws prohibiting the hiring of illegal immigrants, these laws have not been
consistently enforced. In the past, employers who hired illegal immigrants, at
best, faced a modest fine. They often continued to hire illegal immigrants, even
after paying a fine. Enforcement has increased, however, and last year alone over 4,000 arrests were
made; a number seven times greater than the arrests made in 2002. Enforcement
funding was doubled and special task forces were created to dismantle criminal
rings specializing in counterfeit documents, such as falsified Social Security
information that could be used to gain employment. The Department of Homeland Security
is also proposing a “no-match” regulation. This electronic system, would make employers
more easily
aware if they hired someone who provided an inaccurate
Social Security number. It would also remind them that they could be held
liable for hiring these employees. Other proposed legislation includes
introducing a standardized ID card for legal foreign workers that would show
their legal status so that employers could easily identify them. Many also feel
that a temporary worker program would help to alleviate issues regarding
border
security. The reasoning behind this is that if companies are legally
permitted to hire the workers they need, there would be substantially less
pressure on immigration enforcement officials. Border Patrol officials could then focus on
targeting drug dealers, terrorists, and other criminals instead of individuals
who desire to come to the United States solely to work. The program would be temporary and
violators would be denied the opportunity to become permanent residents and
citizens. In addition, American workers would be given priority to positions,
and only after positions remained unfilled would the jobs be made available to temporary workers. The number of
temporary guest workers would be determined by the market.
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Another issue that has to be addressed is dealing with the undocumented immigrants
already residing in the United States. There are many illegal immigrants who have lived
in the U.S. for many years, and besides not having proper immigration
documentation they represent what one woudl consider a hardworking, trustworthy
lifestyle. Many immigrants come to the United States to worked hard, and
are often considered to be a “good resident.” According to the former President Bush, they should be
taken “out of the shadows” and given the opportunity to not be looked down upon.
Regarding his immigration reform plan, the former President also was quick to
state that illegal immigrants should not be granted automatic permanent residency
or amnesty since this would be unfair to those who
have been patiently waiting for years to obtain residency and to enter the U.S.
legally. Illegal immigrants given the opportunity to a path towards
citizenship would be required to:
learn English, pay a substantial fine, have a job for “x” years, clear a
background check and pay their taxes. In addition, they would not be given
preference in the application process and would go to the end of the application
line. Bush's immigration reform plan also addressed the
assimilation of illegal immigrants into American society. He believed it to be
crucial for all immigrants to learn English and understand American culture and
values. By assimilating,
immigrants would be more equipped to achieve their dreams, advance in their careers, and
contribute to the cohesiveness of America. To better help immigrants assimilate,
volunteer organizations would provide assistance by offering courses in English
and civics among others.
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