Tougher Talk on Illegal Immigration (guest worker push continues)

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-im...

THE NATION
Tougher Talk on Illegal Immigration
With conservatives split on the issue, the Bush administration vows to boost enforcement but says a guest worker program is essential.
By Nicole Gaouette
Times Staff Writer

October 19, 2005

WASHINGTON — Faced with deep divisions in its political base over immigration reform, the Bush administration said Tuesday that it would press ahead with the president's plan to adopt tougher measures to control the borders and crack down on illegal residents, while also pushing to enact a guest worker program that would make it easier for foreigners to enter the United States legally.

Conservatives, including Senate Republican leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, have called for putting off consideration of a guest worker program until after a law enforcement crackdown is launched and demonstrates that it can choke the flow of illegal immigrants and deal with the 11 million already in the country.

Administration officials sought to mollify conservatives by using strong language to describe their commitment to harsher enforcement of immigration laws.

President Bush and Cabinet officials also said they would not support amnesty or an easy path to citizenship for those who entered the country illegally. Although they provided few details, they said illegal workers would have to pay significant penalties, including leaving the United States, before they could seek legal status.

But they said greater law enforcement efforts must go hand in hand with a guest worker program to facilitate the flow of immigrants into the workforce.<snip>

[txaslftist]

1. Too little, too late

The maladministration has dropped the ball on immigration reform for five years. All of a sudden they're doing something?

INCOMPETENT