With the election and inauguration over, President George W. Bush has wasted no time openly discussing his plans for America's next four years and his second term in the Oval Office.
Besides touting such promises as repairing Social Security and the possibility of decreasing the U.S. Army presence in Iraq, Bush recently began pushing his "temporary worker program," a plan which has been met with heavy resistance by both Democrats and Republicans and seemed dead on the floor last January when the president first addressed the issue. But, with the sun rising on his second term, Bush promised immigration reform would be high on his list of priorities.
President Bush recently told reporters the "temporary worker program" would permit immigrants to stay in the United States as long as an employer can prove that person is working. Bush said he would dedicate more time and money to push the policy through both the U.S. House and Senate this year. However, opponents to the plan believe it leaves gaping holes in immigration policy and the door wide open to millions of immigrants entering the United States illegally in hopes of achieve amnesty.
This plan is similar to what Americans have seen from this office for the past four years - a quick fix to a much larger problem. The new reform plan directly counteracts the purpose of homeland security.
In a recent interview, Bush complained the border patrol was overworked and understaffed. The president's solution was to open the borders and allow immigrants to flow more freely into the country on temporary work visas. The temporary worker program does little to correct the problem of over-worked border patrols, because, in effect, it would cause greater strain on an already expanding problem.
With the new policy, border controls can expect the number of illegal immigrants trying to jump the borders to rise drastically. It also rewards those who have already broken the law by jumping the border.
Following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, the Bush administration should be working to increase border security, not host a free-for-all for the rest of the world.
America should give poor immigrants the chance to make a better living though. After all, it is the land of opportunity. But, it must be done through the proper channels and not through a hastily and ill-prepared immigration reform policy.
Bush said his plan would aim to relieve the pressures on hotel maids, meat cutters, landscapers and a host of other illegal workers. In order to do this, his plan would allow workers who live in the United States a reprieve from deportation if employers agree to give them jobs for three years and are unable to find American citizens willing to do the job.
Would-be immigrants would also be allowed to apply if they line up a job in the United States. Illegal workers would pay a fee to apply immediately for a green card for permanent U.S. residency.
The applicant would still have to compete for the visa, but would not be deported for three years while the application is under consideration. If workers' applications are not processed in the first three years of their employment, then they would have to return to their countries to await final approval.
Opponents to the president's plan say the policy would, in effect, invite people to be guest workers in the worst jobs without providing any meaningful opportunity to remain in the United States to become legal permanent residents. By employing foreign help, the Bush administration presents itself as a friend to other nations while capitalizing on the cheap labor and back-breaking work of those desperately trying to improve their higher standard of living.
Perhaps instead of jumping into the president's Immigration Reform plan, the administration should deploy economic analysts to study the economies of the world's poorest nations and aid their governments in setting up programs that employ their people with a stronger and more substantial job market.
What's needed most is a plan to improve the economy in Mexico and other Latin American countries, so those now coming to America can find jobs in their home countries.
Bush's plan may take care of the illegal immigrants here, but it doesn't stop the flood. In fact, it could exacerbate it. Americans are fully capable of running a country without importing an endless supply of cheap foreign labor.
Lai is a journalism senior and a member of The Daily Texan Editorial Board. The other members of the board declined to sign this opinion.
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