Published: March 24, 2006
Bush Reiterates Call for Guest-Worker Program
President says vital debate on immigration should be civil, dignified
The creation of a guest-worker program is an important part of the U.S. strategy to secure its borders, says President Bush.
On March 23, Bush met in Washington with the archbishop of Denver and other interested leaders including representatives from the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at the White House for what he called "a very constructive and important" session.
During this dialogue, the president tied the guest-worker program to border security and underscored the need for public debate on immigration reform.
"Our government must enforce our borders; we've got plans in place to do so," he said. "But part of enforcing our borders is to have a guest worker program that encourages people to register their presence so that we know who they are."
The United States can have a "rational, important immigration policy that's based upon law and reflects our deep desire to be a compassionate and decent nation," the president said following the meeting.
In January 2004, Bush first called for a guest-worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing U.S. employers to fill jobs no American will fill. The president reiterated his call for the creation of a guest-worker program in the 2006 State of the Union address. (See related article.)
Under the president's proposal, the federal government would offer temporary worker status to undocumented men and women now employed in the United States and to those in foreign countries who have been offered employment in the United States. The proposal stipulates that guest workers would be obliged to return eventually to their countries of origin. (See related article.)
Creation of a guest worker program in the United States would require congressional action in the form of immigration reform legislation. The president has requested that any such legislation:
Maintain homeland by controlling U.S. borders;
Provide a mechanism for matching willing workers with willing employers;
Promote compassion for unprotected workers;
Offer incentives for temporary workers to return to their home countries and families; and
Protect the rights of legal immigrants without rewarding those who entered the United States illegally.
Several bills addressing the guest-worker issue have been introduced in the current session of Congress. None has emerged from committee - a required step before legislation can be considered by the full Senate or House of Representatives.
For additional information, see related fact sheet.
Following is a transcript of Bush's remarks:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 23, 2006
Remarks By The President After Meeting on Immigration Reform
The Roosevelt Room
10:37 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: I've just had a very constructive and important dialogue with members of the agricultural community, the faith community, the concerned citizen community about immigration. Ours is a nation of law and ours is a nation of immigrants, and we believe that we can have rational, important immigration policy that's based upon law and reflects our deep desire to be a compassionate and decent nation.
Our government must enforce our borders; we've got plans in place to do so. But part of enforcing our borders is to have a guest worker program that encourages people to register their presence so that we know who they are, and says to them, if you're doing a job an American won't do, you're welcome here for a period of time to do that job.
The immigration debate is a vital debate for our country. It's important that we have a serious debate, one that discusses the issues. But I urge members of Congress and I urge people who like to comment on this issue to make sure the rhetoric is in accord with our traditions. I look around the table and I recognize that we've got people from different backgrounds, different heritages. We all may have different family histories, but we all sit around this table as Americans.
And, therefore, when we conduct this debate it must be done in a civil way. It must be done in a way that brings dignity to the process. It must be done in a way that doesn't pit one group of people against another. It must be done in a way that recognizes our history. I think now is the time for the United States Congress to act to get an immigration plan that is comprehensive and rational and achieves important objectives.
So I want to welcome you all for being here. I want to thank you very much for your involvement in this vital issue. I've assured folks here at the table that I will continue to speak out on the issue. I feel passionately about the need for our country to conduct themselves with dignity and, at the same time, enforce our border and treat people here with respect.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.)
See Also: High-Tech Border Security Initiative Improves Security, Encourages Visitors
Source: U.S. Department of State
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