McCain: Illegal Immigrants Should Get Chance to Become Citizens

[CShine]

PHOENIX (AP) - The "human tragedy" of illegal immigrants dying and being abused as they attempt to enter the United States will continue until the federal government acknowledges the important economic role undocumented workers play, Sen. John McCain told Hispanic leaders Saturday.

"It is in our national interest to bring the 8 to 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and allow them an opportunity to become citizens of this great nation," McCain said at the annual conference of the National Council of La Raza, a civil rights group and political think tank dedicated to promoting Hispanic issues.

The Arizona Republican said federal policy and border enforcement have failed to alleviate the deaths of migrants crossing the sweltering Southwest deserts and the violence of smugglers who often hold immigrants for ransom once they reach America. An example of the government's wrongheaded approach, McCain said, is its recent introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles in Arizona that use thermal and night-vision equipment to help Border Patrol agents spot illegal immigrants.

"That ignores the fundamental problem," he said. "Where there's a demand, there's a supply ... There's a demand for people to fill jobs that Americans won't do."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB8ZIADYVD.html

[Catfight]

1. everyone should watch, "Dirty Pretty Things," and then tell me

that immigrants don't get exploited because of this horrible law. This was at least the ONLY thing Bush ever did that was right. I'm sure he did it for another reason but at least it happened.

[NMDemDist2]

2. oh good grief, but Kerry is coming Tuesday to speak to the same

group. I am torn on this issue here, but when I canvassed for ACT the naturalized Hispanics, or those born here had some harsh words for the illegal immigrants.

I was very surprised that every Hispanic I spoke to that day was STRONGLY AGAINST illegal immigration and any amnesty programs :shrug:

[Disturbed]

3. This is Bull!!!

Americans would do these jobs but they are not offered to them because undocumented workers get less than minimum wage, no benefits, health care, worker's comp., Social Security, labor rights and they can be fired on a whim. If US corps would refuse to hire undocumented workers not as many would stream into this country. Give them amnesty and citizenship and that will increase the flow.

There would be enough workers from other countries with documented status to do jobs that some Americans wouldn't want but what exactly are those jobs?

I feel that this propostion is a ploy for more Repub votes.

[Piperay]

7. I agree and I wonder too

if they want to make them citizens so they can draft them and use them as 'cannon fodder', there has to be some nasty ulterior motive. :evilfrown:

[Kali]

5. I've gotten

the same reaction - could it be a class thing?

[NMDemDist2]

6. i think they want the jobs the illegals get and also see the

violence of the "coyotes" in their neighborhoods

[LiberalBushFan]

4. clever, very clever

Repubs choose to have McCain endorse this unpopular idea to win over the minority that supports it, while most Bush voters will not fault the Republican party in general since McCain is considered an outlier.