Talking Back: Bush Reintroduces His Guest Worker Plan

With the election behind him, President Bush is resuscitating his guest worker immigration proposal. He dropped the plan during the 2004 election since the plan is not very popular with his party -- many Republicans say it overreaches and rewards lawbreakers. While Democrats, who are pushing for reform, say the plan doesn’t go far enough.

Consensus on a new immigration policy may be difficult to reach since the issue crisscrosses various concerns, including security and the economy.

But Bush says his plan will improve both -- by legalizing immigrants who merely want to work and return home, proponents say, it will be easier to identify those who may be a true threat to security.

Bush’s plan - an outline

The basic premise of Bush’s proposal is a three-year work permit offered to any illegal immigrant with a job or job offer. This permit may be renewed at least once and perhaps several more times, depending on Congress’ negotiations.

This guest-worker program does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship, but participants would still be able to pursue citizenship.

In January 2004, when he first introduced the plan, Bush clarified that employers must first offer jobs to U.S. citizens, and if there are no takers, then immigrants may be hired/validated.

Would the guest worker program increase immigration?

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, about 485,000 illegal aliens successfully immigrate to the U.S. each year and another 10.3 million live here already. Many Republicans who are concerned by these numbers worry that Bush’s plan would further encourage immigration.

But proponents claim that the plan is not meant to increase the number of immigrants, but rather legalize those who are coming anyway. The proposal recognizes that large sections of the economy - especially the farming, construction, hospitality, and restaurant industries - are making possible illegal immigration because they rely heavily on undocumented workers.

The plan would legitimize these industries as well as the workers themselves, requiring both parties to keep records and pay taxes. Proponents say that the program would free up border patrols, allowing them to guard against smugglers and terrorists instead of busboys and gardeners.

Is consensus possible? Different groups weigh in on Bush’s plan

Congress may have difficulty reaching an agreement on the issue, which has the potential to create a deep division within the Republican Party. Some Republicans say that the president’s plan provides amnesty to those who have entered the country illegally. They argue that the proposal endorses illegal activity, or, breaking into the country when others are patiently waiting their turn.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are saying that Bush should offer more than a temporary permit. They say that while Bush recognizes that the flow of workers from México is a logical response to the shortage of low priced labor, his proposal blames and punishes these workers by not making permanent citizenship an easily accessible option.

Hispanic groups and groups that represent illegal immigrants feel that Bush’s proposal is a step in the right direction, but by no means an end point. The temporary permit will allow migrant workers access to government services, but it does not offer permanent rights or encourage any long-term participation in U.S. civic life.

Mexican president Vicente Fox feels that the proposal is a good beginning as well, and is pleased that workers with the temporary permit will be able to visit their families in México and then return to work in the U.S.; however, Fox would like to see broader protections for workers and changes in the trade regulations between the two countries.

Not making any promises

During a March 23, 2005 press conference with Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, President Bush vowed to continue to push for immigration reforms; however, he admitted that only Congress, not The White House, has the power to enact them.

And Congress will have to consider some important questions when deliberating Bush’s proposal, which is just an outline. Their reforms will be greatly affected by the answers to questions like these: Will legalizing immigrant workers make us safer? What would be the economic risks of closing our borders in the name of security? How can we update our immigration laws to better fit the global economy? Would employers have to pay guest workers the minimum wage or is that wage reserved for citizens?

What do you think?

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Article Posted on: 4/2/2005