Lev Kobrin
01-06-2005, 07:08 PM
Fundamental Immigration Reform Coming
The New Year has begun and based on the signals from the Bush Administration over the past four years and the recent panicked reaction from anti-immigrationists, it appears that a massive guest worker legislation program is on the horizon. What President Bush's immigration proposal may look like can be gleaned from comments in 2004 by Margaret Spellings, until recently, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy (the President's immigration policy wonk).
• Renewable visa in 3 year increments, allowing aliens to work and return to home country at will (visas will be open to those currently undocumented).
• No numerical limit to temporary visas which would be open for both skilled and unskilled labor.
• Social security totalization - workers' SS contributions will be repatriated to their home countries.
• Possible temporary increase in permanent visas.
President Bush's push will likely coincide with Rep. Sensebrenner's anti-immigration bill. Thus, the final congressional action would include both enforcement and benefit components. Based upon all of the above, we expect President Bush to speak on immigration when he addresses the nation during his Inaugural address (Jan. 20th) and/or his State of the Union address (Jan. 25th).
The New Year has begun and based on the signals from the Bush Administration over the past four years and the recent panicked reaction from anti-immigrationists, it appears that a massive guest worker legislation program is on the horizon. What President Bush's immigration proposal may look like can be gleaned from comments in 2004 by Margaret Spellings, until recently, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy (the President's immigration policy wonk).
• Renewable visa in 3 year increments, allowing aliens to work and return to home country at will (visas will be open to those currently undocumented).
• No numerical limit to temporary visas which would be open for both skilled and unskilled labor.
• Social security totalization - workers' SS contributions will be repatriated to their home countries.
• Possible temporary increase in permanent visas.
President Bush's push will likely coincide with Rep. Sensebrenner's anti-immigration bill. Thus, the final congressional action would include both enforcement and benefit components. Based upon all of the above, we expect President Bush to speak on immigration when he addresses the nation during his Inaugural address (Jan. 20th) and/or his State of the Union address (Jan. 25th).