Bush Calls for 'Comprehensive' Immigration Reform

Posted April 30th, 2007 by Dinka

President Bush has called on Congress to make new efforts at immigration reform. VOA's Brian Wagner reports that Mr. Bush made the call in a speech to college graduates in Miami. President Bush congratulated graduates and their families during the commencement ceremony at Miami Dade College.

The president noted the area has one of the largest immigrant populations, and that more than half of the students at the community college were raised speaking a language other than English. "This diversity is one of the great strengths of this city, it is one of the great strengths of this college, and it is one of the great strengths of America," he said.

Mr. Bush urged graduates to strive to achieve their dreams, and he asked them to speak out on issues that matter to them. He said residents in the mostly Hispanic community have a special responsibility to raise their voices on the issue of immigration reform. "We need a system where our laws are respected. We need a system that meets the legitimate needs of our economy. And we need a system that treats people with dignity and helps newcomers assimilate into our society," he said.

President Bush has been pressing lawmakers in Congress to propose reforms that will address concerns about the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.

Last year, members of the president's Republican party in the House of Representatives blocked efforts to vote a comprehensive reform bill. Instead, lawmakers approved a measure that extended border barriers and increased other security measures.

President Bush says he backs improving border security as part of wider reform efforts. But he said any comprehensive deal must include a guest worker program and measures to resolve the status of some 12 million illegal immigrants living in the country. "We must address all elements of this problem together - or none of them will be solved at all," he said.

In an earlier speech Saturday, Mr. Bush suggested he is gaining support from lawmakers who opposed earlier comprehensive reform proposals.

The Democratic leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, has said he plans to hold a debate on immigration proposals next month. Members of the House are expected to discuss the issue in the coming weeks.

Mr. Bush also used the speech in Miami to send a message to the area's large Cuban-American population, and to residents of Communist-ruled Cuba. Referring to Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the president said the reign of every tyrant comes to an end, and the desire for freedom is never-ending.

Mr. Castro has been recovering from stomach surgery he underwent last year, when he handed power to his brother, Raul. It is unclear whether he will resume his full duties as president. - VOA News

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immigration reform

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2007-04-30 21:48.

why not have all the immigrants serve in the arm forces and fight the wars that americans are fighting. and when they return home, if they return, they can live and work in America... however they must serve in our military and fight. just as we Americans are doing.

raises

Brenda mercado's picture
Submitted by Brenda mercado (not verified) on Mon, 2007-04-30 23:52.

Bush this is all i need to say to u Screw u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!u suck,and i wish your never the president again,u should be nice to mexicans and others so than people can respect u,but the way u treat us were going to treat u back,just cause were different doesnt mean anything,u can send all of us back but you and all this people r going to regrated or want us back cause without us u guys are nothing,(bullshit),we grow fruit,vegetables and we clean everything not like white people they are worth nothing just like uuuuuuuuuuu

im just 12 and i dont care wat u think of me,all the things that your doing are so mean.if i were a president even thow im a girl i would treat others the way u would like to be treated,i would not treat white people the way u treat mexicans.You still have a chance to change and the way we think of you. I know why im doing this and you know it tooooooo,i know u can change yourself cause you need to

i would keep writing if i knew that u would change but I know u wont.I would do anything to change our lifes.

Bush & Immigration reform

Ed Weirdness's picture
Submitted by Ed Weirdness (not verified) on Tue, 2007-05-01 20:55.

I am ashamed that I voted for this President twice. I am no longer a member of the RNC as a result of this crazed little martinets misguided immigration reforms. We can never hope to spread democracy, or social or economic equity in Latin America so long as it remains so much easier and profitable for these cowards to slip across our border to the "easy way out". America has a unique society and culture because we have not allowed any one population the explosive growth we are experiencing with this "invasion across our southern border". The urgency that forces this massive influx is the illegals fear that sooner rather than later someone will "turn off the jobs and benefits tap", and they will be left living in a third world country, unable to take advantage of America's largess. The sad fact is that because of their unwillingness to work for democracy and social and economic equity in their native country, like rats deserting a sinking ship, these immigrants may very well capsize America. I'm not so certain that we want to encourage this sort of coward, this type of opportunistic, self interested immigrant to enter or remain in our country.