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Bush, in Latin America, Explains Plan for Immigration Reform

"People are welcome, but under the law," U.S. president says

President Bush says he is pressing hard and working with Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress to get comprehensive immigration reform that will provide "a rational way for people to come and do jobs Americans aren't doing."

In a joint press conference March 13 in Temozón Sur, Mexico, with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Bush explained and defended his plan, saying: "Because we're working together, I believe we will make good progress on this important issue. Together, we're working to ensure that we have a secure and modern border that speeds the legitimate flow of people and commerce, and stops those who threaten our common safety and prosperity."

In Guatemala on March 12, appearing with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger, Bush said, "The biggest problem in the debate is going to be what to do with the people who are already in our country illegally." He said he told Berger there will not be an amnesty or automatic citizenship, but added that it is not feasible to remove the estimated 13 million people who reside in the United States illegally.

"People will be treated with respect, but the United States will enforce our law," he pledged. While saying that timetables are "meant to be broken," he added that he hopes to get immigration reform completed by August.

"The current immigration system is not working," Bush acknowledged.

"It needs to be changed for the good of our country, and it needs to be changed for the good of the people that are in our country," he said March 7 in an interview with the Spanish-language television network Univision before departing for the trip to Latin America.

Bush said the politics of immigration reform are "complicated" and require "both [political] parties learning to work together on this issue." His own party, the Republican Party, is trying to develop a "coherent" position in the Senate, the upper house in the bicameral U.S. legislature. Once Republicans have found a position most "are comfortable with, then we'll start working with the senator," he said, referring to Senator Edward Kennedy (Democrat of Massachusetts), who chairs the key Senate subcommittee responsible for immigration.

When the new Congress convened January 4, a "sense of Congress" resolution passed, calling for a comprehensive immigration reform bill, and Kennedy has said he agrees with the principles Bush has set forth. Bush said in Guatemala that bipartisan support is necessary to move immigration reform through the U.S. Senate. Both political parties in the United States have internal divisions on immigration reform policy. The U.S. Senate is controlled by the Democrats by one vote. In the Senate, a simple majority - 51 votes or more - is needed to pass legislation. But opponents can block consideration by prolonging debate unless at least 60 votes are obtained to limit debate and bring the legislation to a vote.

"If nothing moves out of the Senate, nothing is going to happen in the House. And so, therefore, the initial stages of getting a bill that meets objections is time-consuming, but it is worth it and necessary, in order for us to be able to address the concerns, many of which were expressed during the last debate on immigration reform," said Bush.

Bush described himself as optimistic about the plan.

"I believe we're beginning to find consensus. I think there is pretty widespread consensus that there ought to be a temporary worker plan that says you can come legally to the United States to do a job Americans are not doing for a period of time," he said. "Secondly, once you're in the United States, if you have to come home to be with your family, you'll be able to do so in a legal way. In other words, you'll be able to come back and forth, without fear."

"The hard issue," Bush said, is "what to do with the people who've been in our country for more than a limited period of time."

"The idea of giving someone automatic citizenship is just not acceptable ... to a lot of people in our country," he added.

Bush defended his modernization program on the U.S. border with Mexico as necessary, not just for stopping illegal migration, but also for stopping drugs, terrorists and arms. "I understand it sent a signal that said, 'you're not welcome.' Quite the contrary; people are welcome, but under the law."

He added that border enforcement aims, in part, to convince Americans that a comprehensive plan can work and to assure them that "we're doing our duty by enforcing law."

"The American people need to be persuaded ... that the government takes our responsibilities seriously, which then will make it easier to convince reluctant members of Congress to come up with a comprehensive plan."

Mexico was the last stop in Bush's seven-day trip to Latin America. The president's itinerary also included stops in Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala.

Transcripts of Bush's remarks in Mexico and his interview with Univision are available on the White House Web site, as is more information on the president's comprehensive plan for immigration reform.

For more information on U.S. policies, see Visas and Immigration.

Source: U.S. Department of State