Bush’s New Immigration Proposal

Since the news that Generalissimo El Busho is proposing to allow employers to hire foreigners for jobs here broke today, it’s too late to get a column out this week to deal with it. (I did, however, manage to sneak a cartoon out under the wire. It’ll hit the streets tomorrow.)

Bush is certainly correct in his assessment of the problem. The current state of affairs, wherein America makes little to zero effort to guard her borders, then drives its illegals into hiding, is absurd and immoral. It has the practical effect of creating a workforce composed of de facto slave laborers, many toiling for subminimum wages under dismal, unregulated conditions, while driving down wages across the board, even for those who earn higher incomes.

I agree that the 8 million estimated illegals who are already here should be permitted to remain legally. After all, we all but invited them. But the door–to illegal immigration–should slam shut immediately. Vigorous enforcement at the borders and requiring tracking of long-term visa holders would help make sure that only people who are here legally could remain.

That said, the cornerstone of Bush’s proposal has nothing to do with helping beleagured illegal immigrants. Under his plan, any employer who “couldn’t” find an American worker to fill his job opening could post ads for it overseas and invite “guest laborers” to come here and take the spot. Liberals like to argue that illegals take jobs that Americans “won’t” take. That’s bullshit. Truth is, Americans–particularly now, with high official and higher unofficial unemployment–will take any job that pays a salary that justifies the work. Offer me $500,000 a year to shovel dog feces and I’m there. The only reason employers say they can’t fill a job is because they’re unwilling to pay a living wage.

Bush’s immigration reform proposal would elevate one-way free trade to the point that it would destroy the ability of Americans to earn a living. If we workers have to compete with the world’s desperately poor and dispossessed–something we’re already doing when employers move factories overseas–right here at home, we’re screwed. There will always be someone somewhere, in Gambia or Uzbekistan or Vietnam, willing to work for minimum wage. This is Bush’s biggest business giveaway ever–and its effects would be devastating.

Fortunately, true conservatives care enough about the rule of law and national sovereignty to stand fast against this insanity. The horror is the first liberal reaction–that Bush’s plan doesn’t go far enough! What the hell are these people thinking?

Pat Buchanan, call your office.