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American Morning
Bush Expected to Propose Major Changes in Immigration Laws
Aired January 07, 2004 - 07:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush today is expected to propose major changes in immigration laws. Officials say Mr. Bush will call on Congress for policy changes that would give legal status to foreign workers.
Here's Lisa Sylvester.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a new immigration policy the Bush administration is calling earned legality. President Bush wants to pave the way for millions of illegal aliens working in the United States to be legally recognized. It would allow illegal aliens to remain in this country as long as they had a willing employer.
But the president may have a hard time selling this plan to his closest supporters, some of his fellow Republicans.
REP. ELTON GALLEGLY (R), CALIFORNIA: They will try to spin it and sell it not as an amnesty bill, but as the new politically correct term, earned legality. Now, if you earn legality through an illegal act, that's bad policy.
SYLVESTER: Those who favor loosening immigration rules argue that it's good for business owners and consumers.
DANIEL GRISWOLD, CATO INSTITUTE: I think most Republicans understand how the market works and they want to help U.S. business to hire the workers they need and to grow.
SYLVESTER: But conservatives say opening the door to illegal aliens will lower wages for American workers as the labor pool grows. In 1986, President Reagan signed an amnesty bill. Since then, the number of illegal aliens has grown from an estimated five million in the early '80s to as many as 12 million today.
So why would President Bush push this issue now, even though he risks alienating his conservative base? Think back to the 2000 election and all those dangling and hanging chads.
STU ROTHENBERG, "ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT": If the election in 2004 is even nearly as close as 2000 was, that there were a handful of states that could well be determined by how Hispanic voters vote, states like, obviously, Florida; but also Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada could determine the next president. SYLVESTER: But easing immigration rules is walking a fine political line. It may curry favor among swing voters, but lose some base support.
(on camera): There are a lot of unknowns about the early legality program, including how would you set up a job registry, how much would it cost to give legal status to the millions of illegal aliens and what would be the impact to the American worker.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Laws>
Aired January 7, 2004 - 07:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush today is expected to propose major changes in immigration laws. Officials say Mr. Bush will call on Congress for policy changes that would give legal status to foreign workers.
Here's Lisa Sylvester.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a new immigration policy the Bush administration is calling earned legality. President Bush wants to pave the way for millions of illegal aliens working in the United States to be legally recognized. It would allow illegal aliens to remain in this country as long as they had a willing employer.
But the president may have a hard time selling this plan to his closest supporters, some of his fellow Republicans.
REP. ELTON GALLEGLY (R), CALIFORNIA: They will try to spin it and sell it not as an amnesty bill, but as the new politically correct term, earned legality. Now, if you earn legality through an illegal act, that's bad policy.
SYLVESTER: Those who favor loosening immigration rules argue that it's good for business owners and consumers.
DANIEL GRISWOLD, CATO INSTITUTE: I think most Republicans understand how the market works and they want to help U.S. business to hire the workers they need and to grow.
SYLVESTER: But conservatives say opening the door to illegal aliens will lower wages for American workers as the labor pool grows. In 1986, President Reagan signed an amnesty bill. Since then, the number of illegal aliens has grown from an estimated five million in the early '80s to as many as 12 million today.
So why would President Bush push this issue now, even though he risks alienating his conservative base? Think back to the 2000 election and all those dangling and hanging chads.
STU ROTHENBERG, "ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT": If the election in 2004 is even nearly as close as 2000 was, that there were a handful of states that could well be determined by how Hispanic voters vote, states like, obviously, Florida; but also Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada could determine the next president. SYLVESTER: But easing immigration rules is walking a fine political line. It may curry favor among swing voters, but lose some base support.
(on camera): There are a lot of unknowns about the early legality program, including how would you set up a job registry, how much would it cost to give legal status to the millions of illegal aliens and what would be the impact to the American worker.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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