Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Bush's plan for immigration a good idea
By Jared Silverman
Daily Collegian (Penn State)
08/14/2007

(U-WIRE) UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Bush is right. I never thought such words could be documented, but the fact of the matter is: Bush is right.

Both the Democratic Congress and the Bush administration pushed to reform a bill for illegal immigration law. According to a CNN article, "The Senate bill would have allowed millions of illegal immigration to obtain legal status and eventually apply for legal residency. It also would have created a guest worker program and stepped up border security."

Specifically, Mexican illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border has been the dispute between American citizens and Congress. According to the RoperASW poll of March 2003, 85 percent of Americans believe illegal immigration is a problem. It is so odd to me that so many Americans wish to keep immigrants out. This entire nation was founded and grew as one of the most diverse populations in the world. The only true American is the American Indian and Alaskan Native. As of the 2005 Census, they only make up 1 percent of the entire U.S. population. It makes you wonder who should be classified as the illegal immigrants.

I should not be so shocked. During WWII, when Jews attempted to immigrate, they were not welcomed into the United States, according to a RoperASW poll. It was estimated by a PBS coverage of Jewish immigration that over 200,000 Jewish immigrants were turned away. Those men, women and children were turned away because the majority of Americans did not want them in their nation. Are Mexican immigrants today's Jewish immigrants?

Even dating back further was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which suspended Chinese immigration into the United States for a 10-year period. They were at first welcome when gold was plentiful and railroads needed to be built, because the Chinese provided low-cost labor that the lower- and middle-class Americans would not do. When gold disappeared and the railroads were connected, the Chinese welcome mat was rolled back up. It sounds all too familiar.

Mexicans were welcome into the United States when they were doing the unwanted jobs that Americans would not take. Now the economy is hitting a recession, and like the Chinese in 1882, now there are large groups of Mexicans still crossing the border with fewer jobs available. Now the lower and middle classes are feeling the effects as these illegal immigrants take lesser pay and no insurance.

The employers do not run the risk of being sued by their employees for poor work and health conditions because these employees could be deported if they speak up. Average pay goes down and the cost of living keeps going up.

Bush's proposal allows those Mexican immigrants to be treated with respect and the ability to become Americans. This chance is every immigrant's right and one of the founding principles of our nation. With these workers no longer illegal they will pay taxes, work for normal pay and live the same lifestyle as every American. Hopefully, the work conditions will pick up and the minimum salary will increase so the cost of living will be more affordable. Regulation of immigration will be controlled better and run more efficiently. The bill has provisions for a traditional process without imprisonment for the employees or employers and without damaging employer's profit.

I have earned a reputation for insulting Mr. Bush for his policies, mannerisms and thought processes. Let it be understood I do not "hate" Mr. Bush as so many have accused me. In a 2004 election poll 54 percent of Americans voted they would rather have a beer (or coffee) with Bush. I agree Bush is the kind of American that would be everyone's best friend. He is the guy at the fraternity parties you would need to know. But being a good buddy does not make him a good president.

Eight years Bush has been president, and this failed legislation is the first acceptable proposal I have seen. Mr. Bush was finally right, but like the boy who cried wolf, everyone's sick of his promises and everyone's done listening. Congratulations, Mr. Bush. You are right.

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