Chertoff: Guest-Worker Program Needed

[MasterWolf1]

The United States will have to create a new guest-worker program and not just rely on tougher border enforcement and fence-building to stop the flow of illegal migrants into the country, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Monday.


"Without a temporary-worker program, getting control of the border by 2008 is very, very difficult," Chertoff told reporters. But he also cited statistics that he said showed progress in controlling illegal immigration.


The numbers were offered less than two weeks before November 7 congressional elections in which illegal immigration has been a major issue, especially in the southwest.


Chertoff said arrests of illegal migrants on the southwest border were down 38 percent during July through September, compared with the same period in 2005. He tied the lower numbers to the deployment of National Guard troops there.


He also said federal agents expelled a record 186,000 illegals from the United States this year - 10 percent more than in 2005. Enhanced law enforcement was part of a "strategy that if consistently followed will get the U.S. security at the border," Chertoff said.

Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which embraced the U.S. Senate's comprehensive immigration reform, said: "It's good that they're working toward securing our border and it's good they're having some success at that."


But he added, "I don't think anybody is pretending enforcement alone is going to solve our immigration problems."


Wilkes cited the need to create better alternatives for foreigners to work legally in the United States and compared the granting of 5,000 work visas annually with the 1 million people who come into the country each year searching for jobs.


Conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives blocked broad immigration reform pushed by President George W. Bush, in favor of border security legislation focusing on fence building and more law enforcement agents and materials.


The comprehensive immigration reform would have created a new guest worker plan easing the way for more foreigners to harvest crops in the United States and perform other jobs that Americans either do not want or lack the training to perform.

[Raptorman]

I really can't stand these Neocons.

Controlling the border is simple; no need for fences, military, or other extraordinary measures, when all we need is enforcement of what laws we have on the books.

Without jobs they will not come. How you make the jobs go away is by fining companies that hire illegals by constructing a fine system so draconian not even your greediest CEO would allow an illegal to be employed.

All need be done is to structure the fines according to their inability to pay.

Gross Revenue = Fine
<$1 million = $1,000 an hour for every hour an illegal works.
$1 million to $10 million = $10,000 an our for every hour an illegal works.

And so on.

A company the size of WalMart would face a $10 million dollar fine for every hour an illegal worked.

Penalties this size would get the immediate attention of even the most greedy poultry processor in Iowa.

Enforcement would be easy.  Enlist the help of company employees by splitting 50-50 the proceeds of the fines to those that turn in illegals.  A WalMart greeter could turn in the stores illegal shelf stocker and split the proceeds of a quarter billion dollar fine and wouldn't have to be a greeter anymore.

Jobs for illegals would dry up instantly.

No fences required.

[Hail Columbia]

Raptorman, whoever said that neocons were really liberals who infiltrated conservative circles, so as to destroy the same from within, must have been on to something.

[Raptorman]

Raptorman, whoever said that neocons were really liberals who infiltrated conservative circles, so as to destroy the same from within, must have been on to something.

Neocons have managed to destroy the party of Reagan.

[davkakach]

Raptorman, whoever said that neocons were really liberals who infiltrated conservative circles, so as to destroy the same from within, must have been on to something.

Neocons have managed to destroy the party of Reagan.

Correct.  Bush Sr., as VP, started to purge the White House from Reaganite conservatives from early on, installing in their stead neo-con Kissinger clones like himself.