Bush Makes Push On Illegal Immigration

White House Plans Crackdown On Employers Who Hire Undocumented Workers

(AP)  A crackdown on illegal immigration will have to go forward without help from Congress, the Bush administration said Friday, asserting that an executive-branch-only approach is better than doing nothing.

Two Cabinet secretaries — Homeland Security's Michael Chertoff and Commerce's Carlos Gutierrez — said they hoped to have new tools to combat illegal immigration before moving further to cope with the problem. But Congress could not agree on comprehensive legislation to attack the problem.

The officials said they'll rely instead on tools already in their arsenal, some of which are already under way, including a plan to administratively sanction employers who hire illegal immigrants.

At a joint news conference, Chertoff and Gutierrez put the onus on Congress for any consequences that may be suffered by employers as result of the stepped-up enforcement effort.

"Our hope is that key elements of the Senate bill will see the light of day someday. But until Congress chooses to act, we are going to be taking some energetic steps of our own," Chertoff said. The steps will "significantly strengthen our hand with respect to immigration enforcement."

The White House emphasized that its package of enforcement changes was all it could do under "existing law" — the same law that President Bush has repeatedly called unacceptable.

"Although the Congress has not addressed our broken immigration system by passing comprehensive reform legislation, my administration will continue to take every possible step to build upon the progress already made," Mr. Bush said as the changes were announced.

Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said Mr. Bush has used his executive authority in the past to improve immigration enforcement, such as by strengthening border enforcement. She was pressed on why — if the new changes were such a good idea — Mr. Bush hadn't done them already.

Perino, talking to reporters at the Kennebunkport, Maine, seaside home of his father, George H.W. Bush, said the president held off on sweeping administrative action while pushing Congress to pass better legislation to address the matter. With that effort now sidelined, she said "We're going as far as we possibly can without Congress acting." enforcement.

The administration rolled out a proposed rule that will mandate employers to fire employees unable to clear up problems with their Social Security numbers 90 days after they've been notified of such discrepancies in so-called "no match letters." Employers who fail to comply will face possible criminal fines and sanctions.

"This regulation lays out a clear pattern for doing the right thing which will afford protection for employers," Chertoff said. The new rule will be effective in 30 days.

Recognizing that the crackdown could hurt some industries — particularly agriculture, where more than half of workers are believed to be undocumented — Gutierrez said the Labor Department will try to make existing temporary seasonal agriculture worker and non-agriculture worker programs easier to use and more efficient.

In addition, Chertoff said he will try to use the department's regulatory authority to raise fines on employers by about 25 percent. Current fines are so modest that some companies consider them a cost of doing business, the agency said in a summary of the new enforcement effort.

The administration also wants to expand the list of international gangs whose members are automatically denied admission to the U.S., reduce processing times for immigrant background checks, and install by the end of the year an exit system so the departure of foreigners from the country can be recorded at airports and seaports.

The Homeland Security Department will ask states to voluntarily share their driver's license photos and records with the agency for use in an employment verification system. The sharing is meant to help employers detect fraudulent licenses.

Some of the initiatives are similar to proposals contained in the recent immigration measure which failed to pass in the Senate, though they are not nearly as sweeping.

Mr. Bush suffered a major political defeat when Senate immigration legislation that he had backed and Chertoff and Gutierrez helped draft failed to pass this year.

Senate Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky offered a different view of Congress' work on immigration, saying the White House and the Capitol heard the call of "countless, well-informed Americans" who wanted improved enforcement of border security and immigration laws.

He said the billions of dollars that Congress added for immigration enforcement and the administration's "enhanced commitment" on immigration enforcement will secure borders.

But Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said the administration "can talk until they're blue in the face" but "I won't be happy until I see action that's more than just a press conference and words on a piece of paper."

The Senate legislation was opposed by many conservatives, who complained that people don't trust their government to start new immigration programs since existing immigration laws are not enforced.

The Senate bill would have allowed millions of illegal immigrants to obtain legal status and eventually apply for legal residency. It also would have created a guest worker program and stepped up border security.

Some lawmakers have kept up efforts to tighten the border. Last month, the Senate added $3 billion to a homeland security bill and devoted the money to U.S.-Mexico border security.

[liveinalabam]

Part III

"We democrats are going to address this issue after the election when we take control of the congress. We will return to the 60% to 80% tax rates on the rich and we will be able to take at least 30% of all current lower income tax payers off the rolls and increase government income substantially." We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest." When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied: "We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. I.E. we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long ways to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans.'"

[liveinalabam]

Part II

Profits from the stock market do not reward the hard work of our working class who, by their hard work, are responsible for generating these corporate profits that create stock market profits for the rich. We in congress will need to address this issue to either tax these profits or to control the stock market to prevent this unearned income to flow to the rich" When asked about the fact that over 80% of all Americans have investments in mutual funds, retirement funds, 401Ks, and the stock market she replied "That may be true, but probably only 5% account for 90% of all these investment dollars. That's just more "trickle down" economics claiming that if a corporation is successful that everyone from the CEO to the floor sweeper benefit from higher wages and job security which is ridiculous." "How much of this 'trickle down' ever gets to the unemployed and minorities in our county? None, and that's the tragedy of these stock market highs." Go to part III

[liveinalabam]

Part I

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to put a windfall Tax on all stock market profits (including Retirement fund, 401Ks & Mutual Funds. All to help 12 million illegal immigrants & other unemployed minorities!
Nancy Pelosi condemned the new record highs of the stock market as "just another example of Bush policies helping the rich get richer." "1st,Bush cut taxes for the rich and the economy has rebounded with new record low unemployment rates, which only means wealthy employers are getting even wealthier at the expense of the underpaid working class"
She went on to say "Despite the billions of dollars being spent in Iraq our economy is still strong and government tax revenues are at all time highs. What this really means is that business is exploiting the war effort & working Americans, just to put money in their own pockets." When questioned about recent stock market highs she responded "Only the rich benefit from these record highs. Working Americans, welfare recipients, the unemployed and minorities are not sharing in these obscene record highs." There is no question these windfall profits & income created by the Bush administration need to be taxed at 100% rate and those dollars redistributed to the poor and working class." go to part II

[mayihavemore]

Bush will use tools now available to enforce laws already on books? What a concept! I smell no-bid private contractors as border patrol agents. Bush is getting ready for retirement back home in Texas, needs extra cash flow to cut down brush on property. When will he follow through on Presidential commission on DOD & VA recommendations? SUPOORT OUR TROOPS!!!!!

[radiob-2009]

CBS fix your boards.

[starleo146]

Posted by j-whitman at 02:59 PM : Aug 11, 2007

J let me ask you this Why is Bush taking an about face with Chertoff and threatening to send the illegals back? Is it because the reason the bill failed we pushed to enforce the laws and Border security. Or is it because he wants the bill to come back to prove he is not a lame duck This is something from the very beginning he has opposed. You can bet it is to get even with some one or something. The Congress maybe, look America I'm sending them back. I'm in a dilema over this one.

[starleo146]

Welcome to the new religious denominations Democrat and Republican and neither will answer your prayers but both will take your money.
Posted by radiob at 04:48 PM : Aug 11, 2007

I am in favor of the Party of INDEPENDENTS.

[parakeet57]

TO THE GENTLEMAN OF MEXICAN DESCENT, WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT US CITIZENS GETTING A 'FREE' EDUCATION...SIR, I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, WHO RETURNED TO COLLEGE, AS AN OLDER ADULT AND ALTHOUGH I QUALIFIED FOR A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF GRANTS, HOWEVER, I WILL BE PAYING EDUCATIONAL LOANS BACK UNTIL RIGHT BEFORE I HIT THE GRAVE. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE RIDE, AND ANYONE WHO COMES HERE THINKING SO, IS SADLY MISTAKEN. ONE OF MY FRIENDS FROM SOUTH AMERICA, ALSO AN OLDER STUDENT, AND ALTHOUGH MARRIED TO AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE PROCEDURE FOR BECOMING A CITIZEN, EVEN THE WAIT PERIOD, AND TOOK AND PASSED THE TEST. IF SHE CAN GO THE LEGAL CHANNELS AND NOT COMPLAIN, THEN SO CAN EVEYONE ELSE.
I AM OF AFRO-AMERICAN AND AND LATINO/ITALIAN DESCENT AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL OF MY FOREBEARERS, ON MY DAD'S SIDE, CAME OVER THE LEGAL WAY. THEREFORE, WHILE I DO NOT BEGRUDGE A PERSON A BETTER STYLE OF LIVING, IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE, THAN BE THANKFUL, BECAUSE I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ABROAD WHO WOULD GLADLY WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU AND YOUR MOTHER NOW HAVE.

[radiob-2009]

Welcome to the new religious denominations Democrat and Republican and neither will answer your prayers but both will take your money.

[liveinalabam]

First off; the person(s) who keep using the word "inforce" should do a spell check with their education and see the word is enforce. Furthermore; yes, indeed Bush has spiraled down and taken many with him in the administration. However, I am glad he was in the office at the time of 9-11 and immediately took action for the war. A Democrat would not have done so. I am still hopeful that Bloomberg will stand up and announce his race for candidacy at the last moment. GO BLOOMBERG! Bill Clinton is the one who was approving the full-term abortion. Do your research. Yes, to the free college scarcasm. Many people do not know of their rights to all the government benefits in this country. Those that do are not only using this entitlement but they are taking advantage everyday and not being honest. Most states offer Hope grants for two years of free college education based on income and residency. Furthermore, if you qualify for food stamps/public assistance you also get free college for two years not exceding the Associate's degree. This country does not need another Bush NOR Clinton in office. The pickings are awful this year (GO BLOOMBERG!). For those of you wondering; I know and understand why so many are coming to America. If they are willing to work and pay taxes like everyone else and become a legal US Citizen the right way and learn the American ENGLISH language then God Bless them and welcome them! For the rest of "them" - they need to be deported immediately!

[j-whitman]

Anyway,,, Back to the article --- Bush still won't inforce existing laws.... He's grandstanding to re-gain support from his GOP -- Bush just pulled 1/2 of our National Guard away from the border.

[j-whitman]

Mark S. Schneider, the commissioner for the Department of Education%u2019s National Center for Education Statistics, says the decision was made after a number of other countries%u2014Australia, Germany and Finland%u2014also decided not to participate. That left Armenia, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovenia and Sweden in the study. %u201CWe looked at the countries who are participating, our scarce resources and our overextended staff,%u201D says Schneider, %u201Cand we decided to give it a pass.%u201D ------ Another reason for Taxes & growth in govenment that opposes the Republican Mantra of "No-Taxes" & "Smaller Government"

[j-whitman]

The study, called TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) Advanced 2008, measures how high-school seniors are doing in algebra, geometry, calculus and physics with students taking similar subjects around the globe. In the past, the American results have been shockingly poor. In the last survey, taken in 1995, students from only two countries%u2014Cyprus and South Africa%u2014scored lower than U.S. school kids.

It on Bill Clinton's watch any one cared enough about Educating our Children this test was administered.... 1995

[j-whitman]

The Stupid Peoples War indeed --- This administration dropped out of an international study that would compare U.S. high-school students who take science & math courses with thier international conter parts ---

-- The last time the study was done ------ Studtents from only 2 countries, Cyprus & South America scored lower than American school kids.

[prinzowhales]

Despite the Stupid Peoples' War--the so-called "War on Terror"--the Washington Regime has yet to halt the flow of millions of illegals over the southern border of the United States.

This tells us two things; 1) the Stupid Peoples' War was not about 'terrorism'--international, or otherwise--because the first thing you do, is secure the perimeter to defend a position or a territory. 2) Bush isn't serious about halting illegal immigration any more than the Regime was interested in it in the 1980s when they sold the citizens a load of dead fish labeled "immigration reform."

[j-whitman]

pwrslm,,,, Republicans only are pro-life until birth ---
-- In America we all need healt & dental care, 1 million Americans are losing thier homes for this Ownership Society this administration pushe for -
-- In Iraq 3,683 Ameicians have lost thier lives in Vain,,, & over 8 Million Iraqi's are facing starvation with another 4 million displaced facing the same probelms with another 20,000 citizens leaving Iraq daily.

[klingon69]

1ST OF ALL I'M EDUCATED, AND THAT'S BAD, BECAUSE I'M AN EDUCATED MEXICAN, MY MOM IS ALSO GOING TO COLLEGE, AND LET ME TELL YOU WE ARE PAYING THOUSANDS FOR IT, IT'S NOT FREE LIKE YOU CITIZENS. PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE AMERICA(THE COUNTRY OF DREAMS) BECAME A NIGHTMARE.
Posted by barby211 at 06:21 PM : Aug 10, 2007
If you are educated, then you should knows and obey the laws of this country.
Free college? Dang, I coulda got free college?
I spent my Veterans Educational dollars and then worked to finish my college. Nothing was FREE.
Take yourself, your madre & padre and your yet to be born anchor baby, and leave this country.

[coffeehead-2009]

I will believe it when I see it happpening. All it is is politics!!
Posted by sclaires at 01:30 AM : Aug 11, 2007


I don't believe one word.
CBS won't cover it but they are still filtering their money and the move for a "North american unions" with peon workers and gross profits - all on the long term taxpayers till we just can't do it anymore. This is what is not reported today - on the "sanitized" news.
They don't want it - we don't want it...
the RICH want it and the United Nations - and our leaders could give a *** if it destroys our country.




The Washington Post leads with word that the Bush administration is wrapping up the final details on a massive aid package to help Mexico The package would amount to "the biggest U.S. anti-narcotics effort abroad" since the $5 billion program known as Plan Colombia


Aware of that public sentiment, Calderon's administration has kept mum about any possible agreement on U.S. aid. Cuellar said Congress must be mindful of that long-standing view as it develops the aid package.

"We want to do this carefully. There has been historical uneasiness in getting assistance from United States. It has to be done in a way to provide assistance, but in such way where the sovereignty and integrity of Mexico is respected. There's always fear they are a puppet to the U.S.," said Cuellar

[pwrslm]

Democrats are for abortion,,, Not true -- Democrats are for Freedoms of Choice & Voice
Posted by j-whitman

you dont mean the voice of the unborn though....

strange how manipulating words make people think they are smart!!

[pwrslm]

Democrats are the protectors of our Constitution, Fair Trade, & accountability --- Republicans are the party of hate, missinformation, dishonor, no regulation & small government so as not to inforce any regulation.
Posted by j-whitman


and you must be the tooth fairy!!