|
A Tale of Two Border Security Systems
|
Posted by admin01 on: 2006-06-07 11:22:38
|
Illustration: The Israeli Wall
The Israelis were able to build a wall which carves out even more Palestinian territory with the subsidies and assistance the U.S. provides Israel. Meanwhile, the U.S. government acts paralysed when it comes down to securing America’s borders. The Washington politicians are more interested in securing Israel, than they are the U.S.
Bush continues to stage media events to try to convince Americans he is getting tough on the border in an attempt to relieve the public disgust over his push for amnesty. Bush insists that Congress must pass a “comprehensive” new law coupling tighter border security with a “path to eventual citizenship” for many undocumented workers. But there are already laws which allow aliens to apply for citizenship.
Perhaps we should ask those Senators who want lax immigration for “cheap labor” to aid some business constituents and who always vote for what the Israelis want, whose payroll are they on?
Bush stresses border control in immigration debate
By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland
Tuesday, June 6, 2006; 6:02 PM
ARTESIA, New Mexico (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, hoping to sway conservatives skeptical about his proposed U.S. immigration overhaul, stressed his commitment to tougher border controls on Tuesday in a swing through New Mexico and Texas.
Taking his immigration case to the front lines, Bush sought to shift the focus away from complaints that an immigration bill he backed passed by the Senate last month adds up to amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants.
The Immigration Debate
IMG ALT The Washington Post's coverage of the immigration issue, from the politics of revising the nation's immigration laws to the impact of illegal immigration on the U.S.-Mexico border and the Washington region.
The U.S.-Mexico border is at the forefront of a growing debate over U.S. immigration and border security reform.
As he toured the Border Patrol's training academy in New Mexico, Bush insisted that Congress must pass a comprehensive new law coupling tighter border security with a path to eventual citizenship for many undocumented workers.
"We've got to enforce our borders," Bush told trainees as he touted efforts to stem the flow of illegal immigrants across the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) U.S.-Mexico border, including deploying 6,000 National Guard troops to back up the hard-pressed Border Patrol.
The Senate bill includes tightened border protection, a temporary worker plan and a mechanism to help illegal immigrants win citizenship, provided they pay fines and back taxes, learn English and maintain a crime-free record.
Bush said lawmakers trying to reconcile that bill with a much tougher House bill, that defines the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country as felons, were making progress. However many doubt that it will be possible to push through an immigration overhaul before congressional elections in November.
"There's a growing consensus among all parties and all regions of the country that fundamental reforms are needed," he said, adding that the current system was not working.
However, Bush declined to set a deadline for legislation. "My job is to continue to call people to account and say we've got to work together to get a bill done," he said.
Enforcement was the emphasis in Tuesday's visit to the Border Patrol academy, which is gearing up to meet Bush's pledge to add 6,000 agents by 2008, increasing the agency's manpower to 18,000.
Watchdog groups have questioned the academy's ability to prepare so many agents in so little time.
Standing with rolled-up sleeves in the sun-baked New Mexico desert, Bush watched a mock search of rail cars for stowaways, a simulated check of bus passengers' documents and the staged arrest of smugglers armed with plastic pistols.
Immigration has divided Republicans in an election year in which they are trying to keep control of Congress, while Bush is struggling with public approval ratings of around 35 percent or lower.
Bush could once count on rock-solid support from conservatives but their enthusiasm for him has cooled. Anger over his stance on immigration, plus his handling of the Iraq war and a series of political miscues have taken their toll.
MediaLink
|
|
News Source: Lewis Doherty
|
|
Support Our Media, Subscribe Today
Support Our Media, Subscribe Today
