The Hindu : Bush for changes to immigration laws

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2004

International

International

Bush for changes to immigration laws

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington JAN. 6. The United States President, George W. Bush, will be proposing changes to the immigration laws on Wednesday, intended to allow workers from Mexico to come to the U.S. if they have jobs waiting for them.

The move has set off the expected talk in many quarters that this is an election year gimmick to humour the Hispanic community, which is a major factor to be reckoned with in such key States as Florida and California.

"The President has long talked about the importance of having an immigration policy that matches willing workers with willing employers", the White House spokesman, Scot McClellan, remarked. "It is important for America to be a welcoming society. We are a nation of immigrants, and we're better for it", he said. According to an agency report quoting unnamed sources, Mr. Bush will be only putting out a set of principles, and not any detailed piece of legislation.

The President's outlines, it is said, will be drawing upon bills already pending in Congress. But key members of the Latin American community are already making the point that they are quite knowledgeable about a real policy debate and political posturing.

Mr. Bush is expected to talk about the issue when he meets his counterpart from Mexico on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas later this week. It is no secret that Mexico has been trying to get legal status for an estimated 4 million undocumented Mexicans in this country. Mexico has also been trying to find a legal way for its citizens to come to the U.S. for work.

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