Bush admn takes steps on illegal immigration

FE Team | Published: August 12, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Washington, Aug 11 (PTI): In the absence of the US Congress agreeing on the comprehensive immigration reform, the Bush administration has stepped up its role in coming to terms with illegal immigration.
Two Cabinet Secretaries - Homeland Security's Michael Chertoff and Commerce's Carlos Gutierrez - at a joint press conference announced a series of steps aimed at coming to terms with a problem that has defied a political solution.
The Bush administration has announced that it is going to study measures to reform the programmes related to high skilled workers but has made no commitment Friday or even discuss what it is that the administration is contemplating.
"... the economic security of our nation is also essential. We do not have the workers our economy needs to keep growing each year. The demographics simply are not on our side.
While Congress has not passed a new temporary worker programme, we do have existing programmes on the books that help provide workers and industries like agriculture, landscaping, hospitality, and lodging," Gutierrez said.
"During the legislative process, we heard from many people involved, especially farmers and small-business owners, that these programmes could be made easier to use, while protecting the rights of workers.
That's why the Department of Labour will be reviewing ways to make the H-2A agricultural seasonal worker programme more workable, while protecting the rights of workers," he added.
"The Department of Labour will also issue regulations streamlining the H-2B programme for non-agricultural seasonal employees who work in industries ranging from hospitality to crab picking.
Finally, the administration will study possible administrative reforms to the programmes for temporary high - skilled workers," the Commerce Secretary said.
"With historically low 4.6 per cent unemployment, it is clear that there are jobs that Americans aren't willing to do or that Americans are not available to do.
And we need to acknowledge this reality. That means looking at ways to improve these vital programmes so they are workable, realistic and help meet the demands of our economy," he maintained.