Zach LarkinsWHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO?
President Bush is touring Latin America right now. He's greeted with all sorts of protestors who are against just about anything he stands for. And stand he does, in the face of all those, even some Americans, who are against him and his administration. But it seems particularly galling coming from the Mexicans and Guatemalans.
Bush says he wants a breakthrough on U.S. immigration reform by August but defended raids against illegal immigrants, a policy that drew criticism during his tour. Why would raids against illegals draw criticism? There are legal ways of entering the country, and I believe this is what Bush is looking at. I can't think of a country anywhere that would not welcome legal immigrants. But the illegals? As far as I'm concerned, kick them out and let them try it the proper way.
Bush discussed immigration and regional efforts against drug trafficking with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger in a trip to the Mayan highlands. Drugs? Why not? Guatemala is not exactly teeming with murder-bombers or airplane flying terrorists, so why not deal with the drug cartels? Although, if you look at the drug epidemic across America, you wouldn't be faulted for saying drug dealers are terrorists in their own right.
We are all well aware that U.S. immigration policies are unpopular across much of Latin America, which helps leftist leaders gain sway in the region. Now on the far left, we have communists, but closer to home, on the left side we have socialists and democrats. What does that tell us? Same tiger, different stripes? Berger is a conservative ally on most issues, but he made clear he also opposed Bush's stance on immigration."Once in a while differences of opinion arise, for example regarding the issue of migrants and particularly those who have been deported without clear justification," he said.
I fail to see the problem with migrant workers, if that was whom he was referring to. We have them here in Canada to work during harvest season. They are issued a temporary work visa and when it expires, they go home. During their stay here, they have more than enough time to look into what is required for them to immigrate legally. When they overstay their welcome, then they become a problem. As for those who have been deported ‘without clear justification', let's take a look at this.
About 18,000 Guatemalan illegal immigrants were deported from the United States last year, an increase of 60% from 2005. Most were caught soon after crossing the U.S. border, but a quarter had been in the country more than a year. Well, assuming they came in under temporary visas, those visas don't last for a year. So they are illegal and hence, a problem. Recently, in New Bedford, Mass., last week illegals were rounded up by federal authorities who raided a leather goods maker suspected of hiring illegal immigrants, stranding their young children at schools and with baby sitters. Most were from Guatemala and El Salvador. Perhaps Berger, realizing he can't provide proper food, clothing and shelter to his citizens, thinks it's a good idea to send them off to America. Maybe they'll even send some money home that Berger can stick in his coffers.
"The United States will enforce our laws," Bush told reporters in defending the raids. But he said he hoped to get the Democratic led Congress to make significant strides toward an immigration overhaul, including a temporary guest worker program, in coming months. I don't see why this plan is not a good one. The migrants would, or at least should, not be allowed US drivers licences, Social Security cards, welfare or unemployment benefits and free legal help. They can get that when they apply for legal entry and become citizens. Not before. But people like Berger don't like the idea. They want their citizens to have full access to all the rights reserved for Americans without giving anything in return.
Bush failed to get an overhaul through the Republican led Congress last year due to conservative concerns about a porous U.S.-Mexico border. It seems that trying to get this measure through, now that Congress is led by the left leaning Democrats, shows he is trying to work on the problem with a satisfactory solution for everyone involved. However, that solution cannot, and must not, include turning a blind eye to illegals and giving them carte blanche when they are discovered and deported. Whether Democrats, currently in an uproar about the Iraq war, will agree to an immigration deal is uncertain. Bush defended plans to seal off parts of the border with Mexico with a fence, saying it would give skeptical lawmakers confidence to back the guest worker program for immigrants. He also pushed for a regional deal to share information about increasingly powerful smuggling gangs who move drugs through Central America and Mexico into the United States. If Bush's first obligation as president is to defend and protect the USA and its citizens, it seems he is doing a hell of a good job, despite his naysayers.
Bush has been dogged all along this trip by thunderous denunciations from his leftist nemesis in the region, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Question: Who would you rather live under?
Sources: Matt Spetalnick & Mica Rosenberg Bush Wants Immigration Deal Reuters
Bush says he wants a breakthrough on U.S. immigration reform by August but defended raids against illegal immigrants, a policy that drew criticism during his tour. Why would raids against illegals draw criticism? There are legal ways of entering the country, and I believe this is what Bush is looking at. I can't think of a country anywhere that would not welcome legal immigrants. But the illegals? As far as I'm concerned, kick them out and let them try it the proper way.
Bush discussed immigration and regional efforts against drug trafficking with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger in a trip to the Mayan highlands. Drugs? Why not? Guatemala is not exactly teeming with murder-bombers or airplane flying terrorists, so why not deal with the drug cartels? Although, if you look at the drug epidemic across America, you wouldn't be faulted for saying drug dealers are terrorists in their own right.
We are all well aware that U.S. immigration policies are unpopular across much of Latin America, which helps leftist leaders gain sway in the region. Now on the far left, we have communists, but closer to home, on the left side we have socialists and democrats. What does that tell us? Same tiger, different stripes? Berger is a conservative ally on most issues, but he made clear he also opposed Bush's stance on immigration."Once in a while differences of opinion arise, for example regarding the issue of migrants and particularly those who have been deported without clear justification," he said.
I fail to see the problem with migrant workers, if that was whom he was referring to. We have them here in Canada to work during harvest season. They are issued a temporary work visa and when it expires, they go home. During their stay here, they have more than enough time to look into what is required for them to immigrate legally. When they overstay their welcome, then they become a problem. As for those who have been deported ‘without clear justification', let's take a look at this.
About 18,000 Guatemalan illegal immigrants were deported from the United States last year, an increase of 60% from 2005. Most were caught soon after crossing the U.S. border, but a quarter had been in the country more than a year. Well, assuming they came in under temporary visas, those visas don't last for a year. So they are illegal and hence, a problem. Recently, in New Bedford, Mass., last week illegals were rounded up by federal authorities who raided a leather goods maker suspected of hiring illegal immigrants, stranding their young children at schools and with baby sitters. Most were from Guatemala and El Salvador. Perhaps Berger, realizing he can't provide proper food, clothing and shelter to his citizens, thinks it's a good idea to send them off to America. Maybe they'll even send some money home that Berger can stick in his coffers.
"The United States will enforce our laws," Bush told reporters in defending the raids. But he said he hoped to get the Democratic led Congress to make significant strides toward an immigration overhaul, including a temporary guest worker program, in coming months. I don't see why this plan is not a good one. The migrants would, or at least should, not be allowed US drivers licences, Social Security cards, welfare or unemployment benefits and free legal help. They can get that when they apply for legal entry and become citizens. Not before. But people like Berger don't like the idea. They want their citizens to have full access to all the rights reserved for Americans without giving anything in return.
Bush failed to get an overhaul through the Republican led Congress last year due to conservative concerns about a porous U.S.-Mexico border. It seems that trying to get this measure through, now that Congress is led by the left leaning Democrats, shows he is trying to work on the problem with a satisfactory solution for everyone involved. However, that solution cannot, and must not, include turning a blind eye to illegals and giving them carte blanche when they are discovered and deported. Whether Democrats, currently in an uproar about the Iraq war, will agree to an immigration deal is uncertain. Bush defended plans to seal off parts of the border with Mexico with a fence, saying it would give skeptical lawmakers confidence to back the guest worker program for immigrants. He also pushed for a regional deal to share information about increasingly powerful smuggling gangs who move drugs through Central America and Mexico into the United States. If Bush's first obligation as president is to defend and protect the USA and its citizens, it seems he is doing a hell of a good job, despite his naysayers.
Bush has been dogged all along this trip by thunderous denunciations from his leftist nemesis in the region, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Question: Who would you rather live under?
Sources: Matt Spetalnick & Mica Rosenberg Bush Wants Immigration Deal Reuters
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