Immigration Speech Preview

It's apparent from the stories coming out that Bush will send National Guard units to the Mexican border. Mexico's president Fox has called to complain. Bush assured him it was only going to be temporary.

"The president made clear that the United States considers Mexico a friend and that what is being considered is not militarization of the border but support of Border Patrol capabilities on a temporary basis by National Guard personnel," said White House spokeswoman Maria Tamburri.

Yet the idea has further stirred an already volatile debate about immigration on both sides of the border even before the president makes his prime-time speech from the Oval Office at 8 p.m. A number of Democrats and even a few key Republicans voiced skepticism or outright opposition to the reported plan yesterday, calling it a politically motivated move that will only further strain units already stretched by duty in Iraq without solving the underlying problem of illegal immigration.

Which is fine, but is also what I'm afraid of. In other words, I do not want troops deployed indefinitely, but only until a permanent fence can be built. But the sheer gall of the Mexican president is apparent:

The president's plan could increase the strain with Fox, who has grown disenchanted with Bush's failure to ease immigration rules as promised. Fox for years has pressured Bush to help the 11 million illegal immigrants now in the United States, many of them from Mexico, with little to show for it. In their 15-minute call yesterday, "the president reiterated to President Fox his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform," Tamburri said.

Tonight's speech is aimed at assuaging House Republicans who have insisted on tougher enforcement measures against workers illegally in the country. If the House contingent feels action is being taken, White House officials hope they may yet sign off on some version of Bush's guest-worker proposal, which would provide a way for undocumented immigrants to stay here legally if they pay back taxes and penalties.

We'll see, I guess.

• 

  By jp, May 18, 2006 @ 9:12 am

  it’s a difficult one. can’t have a militarised border, what is this, 1845?!

• 

  By Gaius, May 18, 2006 @ 9:16 am

  No one is talking about militarizing it. Fencing is not militarizing.

Other Links to this Post

1. Sister Toldjah — May 15, 2006 @ 7:52 am