VIP Room: Bilbray Tackles Guest Workers

Today in The VIP Room, Brian Bilbray gives us his take on President Bush's support for The McCain- Kennedy  Proposal of granting'guest worker'  status to those living here illegally.  There are many who feel a guest worker program is nothing more than providing amnesty to illegal immigrants.  Brian Bilbray, a three term U.S. Congressman, is currently a candidate for the 50th district of California.  Agree or disagree, I want to know your opinion on the guest worker program.  ~ Rick

Too Many Suffer From Amnesty Amnesia
By: Brian Bilbray

The origin of the word AMNESTY is derived from the Latin word amnesita – meaning forgetfulness [Merriam Webster].  It seems that President Bush and Ted Kennedy have developed such a habit of forgetfulness every time they promote their so-called “guest worker” program.  I don’t know how you can support such a policy while at the same time, claim to oppose amnesty for illegal aliens.  It would appear as if their position on this issue is more driven by personal polling research rather than personal ideology.   

The American people overwhelmingly oppose the rewarding of those who violate our immigration laws, which is what we do right now.  No politician this side of Karl Marx is going to be stupid enough to actually say that they are supportive of a new round of amnesty, and for good reason.

The amnesty provision in the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) was one of the nation’s worst immigration blunders. At the time it was hoped that an amnesty provision would make it easier to enforce immigration laws by legalizing the illegal alien population.  However, (Click Below to Keep Reading)

the legalization of 3 million aliens overnight backfired and the illegal alien population was quickly doubled in a decade-- and is estimated to have tripled it in less than a decade and a half.   

Even the bill’s co-author, Sen. Allen Simpson has since admitted that amnesty was a huge mistake. The fact remains that the IRCA has led to more illegal immigration than any single piece of legislation, and why not?  If jumping the fence or over-staying your visa results in the President and Congress passing an amnesty bill that moves you to the front of the line, why follow the law when there is no real penalty for breaking it?  The real victims of amnesty however, are the would-be citizens who are trying to play by the rules and abide by the process but end up getting shut out because their place in line ended up going to someone who came here illegally.

If the government is going to pass and enforce a “guest worker” bill that isn’t direct amnesty or an unofficial “back door” pass to America, then it must have two essential components.  First, the law must require all applications to be made outside of the United States unless the applicant is LEGALLY in the country.  Any law that allows a foreign national to apply for a job while being in the country illegally violates the fundamental principle of fairness that we as a nation have tried to foster throughout the world.  If an illegal immigrant is caught six months after the policy is enacted, they should be immediately deported.  Then, once they are outside of our country’s borders, should they be allowed to apply for “guest worker” status.

The second element to keep the “guest worker” program from becoming another back door illegal “portal” is to require that a large percentage of the salary earned by the “guest-worker” be held in a trust by the Department of Homeland Security until the “worker” departs this country.  The withholding of that salary will be a crucial step in ensuring that the “worker” doesn’t go underground and disappear like so many so-called refugees have before.  If illegal aliens are going to be able to acquire driver’s licenses, enjoy hospital and school privileges and vote in our elections, there must be a substantial financial incentive for them to return home such as withholding 30% or 40% of their salary.

This component is essential because the federal government has not implemented any meaningful interior enforcement in this country.  Once foreign nationals are past our borders, there is little or no effort spent trying to catch them and bring them to justice.  The perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were in our country with expired visas. How many more people are in our country right now that shouldn’t be? The only way to identify those who are here illegally is to implement proactive enforcement measures inside our own borders.  Any kind of “guest worker” program won’t be effective unless we hold those who choose not to comply with the law accountable. 

Now, I’m aware that many people are against implementing any kind of “guest worker” program at all.  Some will ask “don’t we have enough people in this country already?” or “once you break the law, shouldn’t that be the end of the discussion?” but we have 53 members of the United States Senate who, in an impressive display of infinite wisdom, voted for an amnesty bill that masquerades as a “guest-worker program.”  If such a program is going to exist, then we have to do everything possible to make it a real “guest-worker program” and not another repeat of the 1986 amnesty scheme.  We must ensure that any law that addresses illegals in this country does not lead to another new wave of illegal immigration like the ’86 Amnesty did. 

The story of America is the story of expanding liberty; an ever-widening circle, constantly growing to reach further and include more.  A nation built on the promise of freedom.  That freedom extends to its citizens and to those who abide by our laws.  This most basic principle of freedom is why so many flock to our nation.  We are the land of opportunity, but it is because of our laws that we can sustain the liberties we enjoy.  It is our fundamental right and responsibility to maintain and defend the laws that govern our land and no one should be exempt from them.

Comments

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[Rick Amato]

Joe, Your comments about our nation's borders are 'right on'. How can the White House be serious about fighting terrorism and in their claims of progress against radical Islam, when they are not taking our borders serious? Thank you for your comment. -Rick

[Joe]

I oppose amnesty! I oppose any guest worker program until the border is secured and a fool proof method of accounting for them is in place and proved to work. All illegals should be deported. There conduct is disrespectful to this nation and it's laws. Go home, get in line and enter legally. How disrespectful are they to the people waiting in line?