Pnma: Bush's immigration initiative

You've heard the Mexican perspective. Here's the Caribbean one:

"There are two areas of the proposal that if passed can be beneficial for Caribbean nationals as well as others. Today's climate and mood in the country is not conducive to an across-the-board amnesty. As such any opportunity granting benefits is welcomed. Granting temporary work visas to work for up to three years with possible renewals with the right to travel out of the country can prove beneficial to many. Caribbean people in general want just an opportunity to get started --- a foot in the door.

"We have never looked down on any form of work in this country. In fact, many of us have derived our education and material trappings through this avenue. So if we have three to six years to live and work legally in the United States, I am confident that within that time we will find ways to legalize our status. The other benefit from this proposal for us as a community has to do with increasing the yearly pool of available greens cards. This will help to clear up the backlog in immigration there by making many who are considered undocumented permanent residents. The same would go for several thousands waiting for labor board certification."

Here's the line I really enjoy in this article, "Today's climate and mood in the country is not conducive to an across-the-board amnesty." It's high time somebody realized and said that out loud. Americans don't want any more September 11s. At the same time, we don't want to close our borders completely. There has to be a balance between American security and the need of immigrants for a better lifestyle. While Mr. Bush's immigration initiative is not the best -- what makes him think that folks are going to go back home after three-years? -- he is attempting to achieve some sort of equilibrium between American security and the economic issues of other countries. If you doubt that what Pres. Bush does with immigration has a huge impact on other countries' economies, just check with MoneyGram or Western Union. If the U.S. were to round up illegal immigrants and ship them home there would be a negative impact on the American economy, true; however, the impact on other countries' economies would be devastating. Just ask Mexico.

Kudos to Irwine Clare.

Here's the perspective from Puerto Rico.