The Associated Press reports that President Bush is moving toward allowing illegal aliens who came to the U.S. before February 2004 to qualify for guest-worker visas. Illegal aliens arriving after that date would be deported:
"They're trying to split the baby," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said of the White House plan, "and I don't think they can do that."
The proposed McCain-Kennedy approach to immigration reform would create 400,000 three-year visas for guest workers and would let undocumented workers stay in the U.S. while they apply for the program. The Cornyn-Kyl proposal would create two-year visas and require that guest workers and illegal aliens leave the U.S. before they can apply for the chance to work legally in the country.
According to the Associated Press, President Bush does not favor requiring illegal aliens to be sent home to apply for the visas. That's too bad because any proposed reform permitting those here illegally to participate in a guest worker program without leaving can only be perceived as an amnesty. Such a plan will only encourage more illegal immigration.
I agree with Senator McCain that the administration won't be able to split the immigration baby. The administration will have to choose sides between the Cornyn-Kyl and McCain-Kennedy approaches.
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