Immigration Reform Group Says Bush Distorting Immigration Issue
Jim Kouri, CPP
May 01, 2006
In a recent speech in Irvine, California, President Bush once again distorted the options that this nation has available in the effort to combat mass illegal immigration, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
"Massive deportation of the people here is not going to work," Bush said in a deliberate effort to create the impression that the only alternative to his proposal would be massive round-ups and deportations of people who are in the country illegally.
In his Irvine speech, President Bush assiduously ignored viable proposals for enforcing U.S. immigration laws that do not entail mass deportation. Proposals, including one approved by the House of Representatives last December, call for a comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement rather than merely deporting the estimated 12 million illegal aliens in the country.
"President Bush is using the mass deportation argument as a political straw man," charged Dan Stein, president of FAIR.
"The fact of the matter is that no one has seriously suggested that we deport 12 million people. Nevertheless, the president continues to attack this straw man, while he refuses to exercise any of the powers he already has at his disposal to enforce the nation's immigration laws, protect American workers, and defend the homeland security of this nation."
The comprehensive approach includes strict enforcement of laws against employing illegal aliens; removal of business tax deduction and government contracts to employers found to be hiring illegal aliens; limiting illegal immigrants' access to non-essential and non-emergency benefits and services; enhanced border security; greater cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies, and other measures that remove the incentives for people to remain in the U.S. unlawfully.
Under the current administration, interior and work site enforcement have been virtually abandoned with the exception of extremely isolated and highly publicized raids such as ones that occurred last week.
"This administration has a strong propensity to ignore facts that are inconvenient to their objectives," charged Stein. "It has been the goal of this administration to allow American businesses widespread access to low-wage foreign labor, since the day they took office and they have steadfastly refused to enforce a variety of immigration laws. Now President Bush wants to create the impression that our immigration laws can't be enforced by convincing the American public that the only alternative to amnesty and guest workers is mass deportation.
"In reality, the choices we have before us are amnesty and guest workers on the one hand -- which would amount to a massive sell-out of the American middle class -- and, on the other hand, a comprehensive enforcement effort that eliminates the reasons why people come and remain in the U.S. illegally," said Stein.
"There is a whole smorgasbord of options available to enforce our immigration laws, yet the president is still claiming that there is only one item on the menu."
"Massive deportation of the people here is not going to work," Bush said in a deliberate effort to create the impression that the only alternative to his proposal would be massive round-ups and deportations of people who are in the country illegally.
In his Irvine speech, President Bush assiduously ignored viable proposals for enforcing U.S. immigration laws that do not entail mass deportation. Proposals, including one approved by the House of Representatives last December, call for a comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement rather than merely deporting the estimated 12 million illegal aliens in the country.
"President Bush is using the mass deportation argument as a political straw man," charged Dan Stein, president of FAIR.
"The fact of the matter is that no one has seriously suggested that we deport 12 million people. Nevertheless, the president continues to attack this straw man, while he refuses to exercise any of the powers he already has at his disposal to enforce the nation's immigration laws, protect American workers, and defend the homeland security of this nation."
The comprehensive approach includes strict enforcement of laws against employing illegal aliens; removal of business tax deduction and government contracts to employers found to be hiring illegal aliens; limiting illegal immigrants' access to non-essential and non-emergency benefits and services; enhanced border security; greater cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies, and other measures that remove the incentives for people to remain in the U.S. unlawfully.
Under the current administration, interior and work site enforcement have been virtually abandoned with the exception of extremely isolated and highly publicized raids such as ones that occurred last week.
"This administration has a strong propensity to ignore facts that are inconvenient to their objectives," charged Stein. "It has been the goal of this administration to allow American businesses widespread access to low-wage foreign labor, since the day they took office and they have steadfastly refused to enforce a variety of immigration laws. Now President Bush wants to create the impression that our immigration laws can't be enforced by convincing the American public that the only alternative to amnesty and guest workers is mass deportation.
"In reality, the choices we have before us are amnesty and guest workers on the one hand -- which would amount to a massive sell-out of the American middle class -- and, on the other hand, a comprehensive enforcement effort that eliminates the reasons why people come and remain in the U.S. illegally," said Stein.
"There is a whole smorgasbord of options available to enforce our immigration laws, yet the president is still claiming that there is only one item on the menu."
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