Georgia state Senator Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) wants to "augment what the federal government is supposed to do" about illegal immigration. Rogers has introduced legislation to "restrict access to schools, hospitals, jobs and highways for the state's exploding illegal immigrant population," according to the AJC.
President Bush's proposed guest worker program is truly immigration "reform" (I've written about this a number of times at AR). Legislation like Rogers' isn't immigration "reform" so much as a "halt" to immigration. Rogers's constituents and supporters don't want to reform immigration, they want to end it completely. I'm from Woodstock, I grew up there, went to high school there - I know these people, but whether it is a fear of "others" (Cherokee County is almost 93% white) or simply economic ignorance that precipitates his constituents desire to halt immigration I'm not entirely sure.
Bush's guest worker program would allow foreign workers to come to United States for specific jobs with specific employers, provided that no American workers could be found to fill the jobs. It would also require the return of these temporary workers to their home countries after their work period was over.
Rogers and his coterie do not want to see this program succeed. Why? Rogers's goal "is to make Georgia no longer a magnet for illegal immigrants." Awesome, thanks Mr. Rogers. Why is Georgia a magnet for illegal immigrants in the first place, sir? Could it be the explosive growth in industries like construction, agriculture, poultry, and carpet-making? These industries are vital to the North Georgia economy. Georgia is not a magnet because of lax enforcement of immigration laws. No, it is a magnet because of its booming economy.
Cherokee County residents don't mind illegal immigrants painting their house, mowing their lawn, washing their car, etc., but they seem to have an aversion to seeing these same people at church, at school, at the doctor's office, or on Towne Lake Parkway. There is a problem with illegal immigration in this country - that is why immigration"reform" is needed. The system needs to be cleaned up and made more efficient. I think President Bush understands the problem and has addressed it correctly with his guest worker program.
Making Georgia, specifically, or the US, generally, "no longer a magnet for illegal immigrants" is certainly not the answer.
Cross-posted at Southern Appeal
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