NumbersUSA Commends President’s Support of Local Law Enforcement; Condemns Call for Amnesty

WASHINGTON , DC – NumbersUSA praised President Bush’s proposed support for greater border security and cooperation with state and local law enforcement in enforcing immigration laws. However, NumbersUSA condemned his call for a guest-worker program - including an ID card for foreign workers – and amnesty for the estimated 12 million illegal aliens currently residing in the United States.

“Granting people exactly what they broke the law to obtain is amnesty, no matter how much the President denies it or what euphemisms he tries to use to mask the plain truth,” said Roy Beck, Executive Directory of NumbersUSA. “Bush failed to mention the most common-sense approach to the illegal alien problem – attrition. We need to enforce our current immigration laws making it difficult for illegal aliens to remain and work in the United States so that many will go home on their own, resulting in a significant decrease in the illegal alien population – precisely what the House-passed bill (H.R. 4437) would do.”

Many believe that Bush’s low poll numbers and wavering support among his conservative base, which overwhelmingly supports securing our borders, may have prompted him to announce his intention to send National Guard troops to the border. However, there is question as to the role the troops will be allowed to play in achieving that security.

“Control of our borders is paramount to fixing our broken immigration system and ensuring national security. Although troops on the border is a good first step to achieving secure borders, I have serious concerns about the role President Bush will allow the National Guard to play.” said Beck.  “The border has become a dangerous place due to ruthless coyotes and drug smugglers. Placing unarmed troops on the border endangers their lives."

Enforcement of our immigration laws is absolutely necessary to ensure Americans' economic and physical security and a successful struggle for living-wage jobs.  Without full-scale efforts in mandatory workplace verification, implementation of the entry-exit system, and increased cooperation between state, local, and federal law enforcement officials, the rise in foreign workers will continue to undermine the economy and undermine the public's confidence in the Bush Administration's handling of it.

“Bush advocates a guest-worker program, and claims they will come to do the ‘jobs Americans are not doing,’ yet 14 million Americans cannot find full-time work and wages for many low-skill jobs are below minimum wage,” said Beck. “I would hope that the President will stop listening to the cheap-labor lobby and hear the cries of the American people who resoundingly want to see the rule of law restored and the interests of Americans put first.”

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