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|  | MAY 16, 2006
By Peter Elstrom Huddled Masses, Tricky PoliticsOn immigration, Bush must balance economic realities, national security concerns, and raw emotion. It won't be easyOn May 15, President George W. Bush used the platform of a prime-time television appearance to address the contentious issue of immigration, which has stirred up strong emotions among voters and split his Republican Party in two. Bush struck the stance of a conciliator, laying out a five-point plan aimed at both boosting security against illegal immigration and providing employment opportunities for workers from other countries. "We are a nation of laws, and we must enforce those laws," he said, seated behind his desk in the Oval Office. "We are also a nation of immigrants and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time." (See "Bush's Speech -- a"Bush's Speech -- a Transcript"). Bush struck the lawful theme first in his speech. He said, "The United States must secure its borders," and then went on to lay out several steps for accomplishing the goal. He called for boosting the number of Border Patrol officers by 6,000 by the end of 2008. He also said he would ask Congress for the funding to create "the most technologically advanced border-security initiative in American history." Specifically, he said the government would use motion sensors, infrared cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol for illegal immigrants. BY ANY OTHER NAME. But Bush didn't stop at just getting tough with immigrants. He called for a temporary-worker program, so that people from abroad would be able to come to the U.S. to work for a defined period of time. Businesses that wanted to hire such workers would have to show that their positions could not be filled by U.S. citizens. He also wants to create a program under which illegal immigrants could become citizens. The concept has been one of the most contentious in the entire immigration debate. Activists against illegal immigration say that such people should not be rewarded with citizenship for breaking U.S. laws. Bush took care to say what he was proposing was not "amnesty." He said illegal immigrants who want to become citizens would have to pay back taxes, learn English, and work steadily for several years. Still, he wasn't able to satisfy some opponents. D.A. King, of the anti-illegal-immigrant group the Dustin Inman Society in Georgia, said, "[His proposal] is just another word for amnesty. The President is saying the only way we can secure our borders is if we allow the people who have broken our laws to stay." Overall, King called Bush's proposals "very disappointing" and vowed to continue working for tougher laws against illegal immigrants (see BW Online, 5/1/06, "Leading the Charge Against Illegal Aliens"). INTERNAL OPPOSITION. Bush faces a difficult task in reconciling the two sides of the immigration debate within his own party. Many Republicans who support free markets argue that plentiful immigration provides a big boost to the economy. Newcomers help supply the labor force necessary for a variety of jobs and keep economic growth on a pace it otherwise wouldn't be able to achieve. On the other side, however, are Republicans who want more stringent controls on immigration. They argue that illegal immigrants undermine American values, contribute to crime in the U.S., and may even be involved in terrorism. In December, the House of Representatives passed a bill, sponsored by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), with several measures to crack down on illegal immigrants. Among other things, the bill would make it a felony for someone to be in the country illegally. That bill sparked many of the protests in cities across the country this spring. Bush, in his speech on May 15, called for the Senate to pass its own bill by the end of the month. That way, he said, "We can work out the differences between the two bills, and Congress can pass a comprehensive bill for me to sign into law." BUSINESS ON BOARD. Bush repeatedly emphasized the "comprehensive" nature of the law he wants. That would allow him to avoid passing just tougher security measures or just naturalization opportunities for illegal immigrants. He would be able to strike a balance between the two sides. There are tensions between the federal government and the states on the issue, too. Many state officials feel that the financial burden of illegal immigration falls on them, through education and health-care costs, even though the federal government is responsible for patrolling the borders. Several states, including Georgia, have taken tough measures to crack down on illegal workers, with the explicit hope of driving them to other states in the country (see BW Online, 5/1/06, "Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands"). Business groups view Bush's proposals as largely positive steps. They recognize that many people in the country have been concerned about the security component of immigration, particularly after Sept. 11. "The first step to enacting effective immigration-reform legislation is enforcing our borders, but it can't be the last step," says Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive of the Associated General Contractors of America. "We have a magnet here and it's called jobs. People in other countries with much lower incomes are going to be attracted by that." UNITER'S TONE. Businesses have been concerned about the harsh measures proposed by some states and the Sensenbrenner bill. Many see Bush's speech as an attempt at compromise. "To me, it was a great kickoff to the Senate debate," says John Gay, senior vice president for government affairs and public policy at the National Restaurant Assn. "If someone tries to sunset the temporary-worker program, people will point out that that's not what the President wants. If someone tries to pass a measure to deport millions of illegal immigrants, people can say the President doesn't want that." In a sense, Bush, in his speech, struck the sort of stance that many people expected when he first became President. He was measured and diplomatic, striving to find the common ground between fierce opponents. "America needs to conduct this debate on immigration in a reasoned and respectful tone," he said. "Feelings run deep on this issue and as we work it out, all of us need to keep some things in mind. We cannot build a unified country by inciting people to anger, or playing on anyone's fears, or exploiting the issue of immigration for political gain. We must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and that every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say."  Elstrom is news director of BusinessWee Online
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