THE IMMIGRATION DILEMMA

For four years, Bush remained moot on the issue of immigration, particularly undocumented Mexicans crossing into Arizona, New Mexico, and California. An estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants were living in the United States. That was a growth of a rate of 9 percent annually. (American Progress Action, November 29, 2005)

Bush’s enforcement policies failed. Illegal border crossings soared to an all-time high, even though Border Patrol agents spend eight times as many hours patrolling the border. (American Progress Action, November 29, 2005)

In the summer and fall of 2005, Bush’s approval rating plummeted to an all-time low of 35 percent. Several factors contributed to the free-fall: a dismal economy and rising gasoline prices, Bush’s botched reaction to Katrina, a losing war in Iraq, and the indictments of Scooter Libby and Tom DeLay.

Seen by many as a lame duck, Bush used the issue of immigration to help improve his popularity. In November, he announced he planned to liberalize the nation’s immigration laws to allow millions of undocumented workers the opportunity for legal status. But this put him on a collision course with Capitol Hill Republicans who were pushing for a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Bush traveled to Tucson, Arizona that had a significant increase in illegal border crossings since Bush took office. Instead of offering a sensible, realistic plan to stem the crisis on our southern border, Bush staged a photo-op, rehashing failed policies. His speech fell far short of outlining a comprehensive immigration reform plan. He failed to offer a sensible solution that would make the United States physically and economically secure. (American Progress Action, November 29, 2005)

Bush promised to end the practice of “catch and release” by increasing the number of beds in detention facilities by 10 percent, his plan doesn't go far enough. The United States currently has the capacity to hold less than 2 percent of the total number of immigrants who attempt to cross the border annually. (American Progress Action, November 29, 2005)

Yet, Bush refused to endorse McCain’s plan that was cosponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy that would strengthen America’s borders, increase enforcement, encourage economic growth, and give millions of illegal immigrants the chance to earn citizenship. (American Progress Action, November 29, 2005)

With a rising number of undocumented individuals coming into the United States, law enforcement efforts to control the immigration continued to fail. The undocumented population 500 percent in 19 years, soaring from 2.5 million in 1986 to over 12 million in 2005. That came during a period when law enforcement agencies received an increase in funding by 519 percent and a 221 percent increase in staffing their border programs. (www.migrationpolicy.org, December 6, 2005)

Since the late 1990s, Congress passed laws to crack down on illegal immigration. In 1999, the government issued 417 notices of intent to fine employers for hiring undocumented workers. In 2004, that number dropped to three. Even when employers were caught hiring undocumented workers, the penalties typically have been minor. (Washington Post, December 18, 2005)

BUSH’S PLAN. Bush supported a limited temporary “guest worker” program, which allowed undocumented to apply only for a six-year temporary residency. But his plan was impractical and irresponsible. Undocumented workers would have little incentive to expose their illegal status if they faced mandatory deportation after just six years.

Bush’s plan was clearly designed by and for corporate interests that would embrace a low-wage work force that could not vote. This would do nothing to reduce the adverse effect of immigration on wages. And because guest workers would face the prospect of deportation after a few years, they would have no incentive to become integrated into our society.

CONGRESS’ PROPOSALS. In 2005, the House passed legislation to significantly strengthen enforcement by building sections of double walls along more than a third of the 2,000-mile southern border and incorporating more high-tech tools, including sensors, radar, satellites, and unmanned drones, to enhance patrols. The bill also discouraged the hiring of illegal workers by intensifying enforcement against employers, who would have to confirm the authenticity of employees’ Social Security numbers against a national database or face fines of as much as $25,000 per violation. In addition, the bill required that undocumented immigrants apprehended in the United States be held in detention facilities until they were deported. (Washington Post, December 18, 2005)

The Senate waited until the spring of 2006 to tackle the immigration issue. GOP legislators considered several bills:

1. Majority Leader Frist proposed an enforcement-only measure, refusing to address the issue of the 11 million-plus undocumented immigrants already in the United States. (Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2006)

2. A more moderate Republican proposal called for enforcement and also provided for a guest-worker program and a way for those here illegally to work toward citizenship. The plan called for the addition of fences along the Arizona border, doubling the number of border agents, and the criminalization tunnel-building. Right-wing Republicans viewed the provision that could lead to citizenship as amnesty. (Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2006)

3. Another proposal by Republican Senators Jon Kyland John Cornyn would not allow guest workers to gain citizenship. It would require those undocumented immigrants already in the United States to return to their home countries. (Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2006),/P>

4. Senators Edward Kennedy and John McCain coauthored a proposal to help undocumented workers become lawful, tax-paying members of American society. To earn citizenship, individuals would have to apply for a six-year temporary status, have a job, pay taxes, obey the law, learn English, and pay a $2,000 penalty for having come here illegally. In addition, they first have to allow 3 million “green card” applicants apply for citizenship. (Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2006)