President Bush’s Temporary Worker Program.

On January 7, 2004 President Bush proposed a new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing U.S. employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs. The program would be open to new foreign workers, and to the undocumented men and women currently employed in the U.S. This new program would allow workers who currently hold jobs to come out of hiding and participate legally in America's economy while not encouraging further illegal behavior.

Hand and hand with this program was a request made by President Bush asking Congress to work with him to achieve significant immigration reform that:

• Protects the homeland by controlling the borders.
• Serves America's economy by matching a willing worker with a willing employer.
• Promotes compassion for unprotected workers.
• Provides incentives for temporary workers to return to their home countries and families when their work permit expires.
• Protects the rights of legal immigrants, while not rewarding unfairly those who came here unlawfully or hope to do so.

This legislation must also meet the Nation's economic needs and live up to the promise and values of America.

The President reminds us that America is a welcoming nation, and that the hard work and strength of our immigrants have made our Nation prosperous. Many immigrants, and sons and daughters of immigrants, have joined the military to help safeguard the liberty of America. More than 35,000 foreign-born men and women are currently in the U.S. military. Also, about 14% of the civilian workforce is composed of foreign-born workers. And many immigrants start businesses taking the familiar path from hired labor to ownership.

Illegal immigration, however, creates an underclass of workers, afraid and vulnerable to exploitation. Men and women who, when victimized, are afraid to call the police, or seek recourse in the legal system. They are cut off from their families and fear that if they leave the country, they might not be able to return to their jobs.

The President wants to reform some of the current immigration laws. Current immigration laws hinder companies from finding willing workers. The number of “green cards” now available, 140,000 is not enough, and the President called upon Congress to raise it. Also, the visas now available do not allow employers to fill jobs in many key sectors of our economy. The President also stated that these reforms will create a system that is fairer, more consistent, and more compassionate without harming the economic security of Americans.

The President's proposal is based on several basic principles:

• Protecting the Homeland by Controlling Our Borders: The program should link to efforts to control our border through agreements with countries whose nationals participate in the program. It must support ongoing efforts to enhance homeland security.
• Serve America's Economy by Matching a Willing Worker with a Willing Employer: When no American worker is available and willing to take a job, the program should provide a labor supply for American employers. It should do so in a way that is clear, streamlined, and efficient so people can find jobs and employers can find workers in a timely manner.
• Promoting Compassion: The program should grant currently working undocumented aliens a temporary worker status to prevent exploitation. Participants would be issued a temporary worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the U.S. without fear of being denied re-entry into America.
• Providing Incentives for Return to Home Country: The program will require the return of temporary workers to their home country after their period of work has concluded. The legal status granted by this program would last three years, be renewable, and would have an end. During the temporary work period, it should allow movement across the U.S. borders so the worker can maintain roots in their home country.
• Protecting the Rights of Legal Immigrants: The program should not connect participation to a green card or citizenship. However, it should not preclude a participant from obtaining green card status through the existing process. It should not permit undocumented workers to gain an advantage over those who have followed the rules.

President Bush does not support amnesty because “individuals who violate America's laws should not be rewarded for illegal behavior and because amnesty perpetuates illegal immigration.” The President proposes, instead, that the Federal Government offer temporary worker status to undocumented men and women now employed in the United States and to those in foreign countries who have been offered employment here. The workers under temporary status would pay a one-time fee to register in the program, abide by the rules, and return home after their period of work expires. Although there would be opportunities for renewal, these opportunities are limited. Furthermore, in the future, only people outside the U.S. may join the temporary worker program, and there will be an orderly system in place to address the needs of workers and companies:

• American Workers Come First - Employers must make every reasonable effort to find an American to fill a job before extending job offers to foreign workers.
• Workplace Enforcement of Immigration Laws - Enforcement against companies that break the law and hire illegal workers will increase.
• Economic Incentives to Return Home - The U.S. will work with other countries to allow aliens working in the U.S. to receive credit in their nations' retirement systems and will support the creation of tax-preferred savings accounts they can collect when they return to their native countries.
• Fair and Meaningful Citizenship Process - Some temporary workers will want to remain in America and pursue citizenship. They should not receive an unfair advantage over those who have followed the law, and they will need to be placed in line for citizenship behind those who are already in line. Those who choose the path of citizenship will have an obligation to learn the facts and ideals that have shaped America's history.
• Reasonable Annual Increase of Legal Immigrants - A reasonable increase in the annual limit of legal immigrants will benefit those who follow the lawful path to citizenship.

President Bush discussed the benefits of the temporary worker program:

• A more prosperous economy -- for America. The program would allow workers to find jobs and employers to find workers, quickly and simply.
• A more secure homeland -- to improve the efficiency and management of all people who cross our borders. It is in the interest of the Nation, and each community, to identify foreign visitors and immigrants and make clear the nature of their intentions.
• A more compassionate system -- to protect all workers in America with labor laws, the right to change jobs, fair wages, and a healthy work environment.

HAA encorages all to cheer for Alex Rodriguezl.

Hispanics Across America and its president Fernando Mateo is encouraging all
Yankee fans to get behind A Rod in a show of support that demonstrates to
him that we appreciate who he is, and what he stands for as a Yankee and as
a great Latin American Ballplayer.

HAA looking to get Roberto Clemente's number retired throughout Major League Baseball.

Hispanics Across America President Fernando Mateo has launched a national campaign aimed at getting Roberto Clemente’s number 21 retired in the same manner which baseball has retired Jackie Robinson’s number. Clemente who is looked upon as a pioneer for all Hispanic baseball players and an ambassador by all Latinos around the world, has all the credentials to be given this honor statistically as a Hall of Famer and as a Humanitarian. A web site has been created to help garner the support of all fans around the world in our quest to get this great honor accomplished. You can log on to www.retireclemente21.com to register your support to this cause.

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