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Skriven 2006-07-05 23:49:02 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060705) for Wed, 2006 Jul 5
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President Bush Discusses Immigration in Alexandria, Virginia
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 5, 2006

President Bush Discusses Immigration in Alexandria, Virginia
Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins
Alexandria, Virginia

President's Remarks view

˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet: Basic Pilot: A Clear and Reliable Way to Verify
Employment Eligibility ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Immigration ˙˙˙˙˙

THE PRESIDENT: I just had a really interesting conversation. First of all,
this business is owned by two Iranian American brothers. They are small
business owners, they are entrepreneurs, they are employing people. And
then I met with the district manager, who works with the two Iranian
American brothers, happens to be a Guatemalan American citizen. She is
learning business. She is taking on additional responsibility. Then I
talked to the store manager, who was a Salvadoran American.

These people remind me that one of the great features of our country is
that people are able to come here and realize dreams. One of the problems
we have because our economy is strong is that small business owners have
trouble finding workers. People come here to work.

And one of the things we've got to do is to make sure that they have a
verification plan that will enable them to determine, as they hire new
workers, whether or not the workers are here illegally. See, it's against
the law to hire somebody who is here illegally. And we intend to enforce
that law. Part of a comprehensive immigration plan is to give employers the
tools necessary to determine whether or not the workers they're looking for
are here legally in America. And we've got such a plan -- Basic Pilot, it's
called. It's working.

One of the reasons I came is I asked the owner of the business, was the
plan working. He said, yes, it is -- it makes it easier for us to verify
whether the documents a person gives us are true. I also want -- so
therefore I want this plan to be expanded. When I first became President,
it was only in six states. Now it's across the nation, but it's a voluntary
plan. It ought to be a mandatory plan.

I'm strongly for a comprehensive immigration policy, one that enforces the
border. And we're doing that by expanding agents and putting new
technologies on our border. But part of a comprehensive immigration plan is
to make sure we have interior enforcement, that we uphold our laws, and say
to employers, it's against the law for you to hire somebody here illegally;
we intend to fine you when we catch you doing it. But we've got to get the
employers the tools to make sure that the people who are here are here
legally.

Thirdly, I think there needs to be -- I know there needs to be a worker
program that says you can come here on a temporary basis and work here
legally for jobs Americans aren't doing. If you talk to employers such as
these folks, they'll tell you they need workers. And people are willing to
do the work that others aren't willing to do, but we want to make sure
there's a legal way to do it.

So I look forward to working with Congress for a temporary worker plan that
will have background checks to make sure that people that are coming aren't
criminals, that say you can come here for a temporary basis, that you can
do work others aren't doing, and that's one way to make sure that employers
know they're hiring people who are here legally.

We need to make sure we help people assimilate. I met four people here who
assimilated into our country. They speak English; they understand the
history of our country; they love the American flag as much as I love the
American flag. That's one of the great things about America, we help
newcomers assimilate. Here's four folks that are living the American Dream,
and I think it helps renew our soul and our spirit to help people
assimilate.

And finally, we cannot kick people out who have been here for a while. And
so I look forward to working with Congress on a rational plan as to how to
make sure people who have been here, the 11 million or so people who have
been here for a while are treated with respect and dignity. I'm absolutely
opposed to amnesty. Amnesty says you're automatically a citizen. That would
be a mistake to grant amnesty. Amnesty would say to somebody, all I've got
to do is wait it out; all I've got to do is get here illegally myself and
I'll become a citizen. That would be bad policy.

But I'm also realistic to tell you that we're not going to be able to
deport people who have been here, working hard and raising their families.
So I want to work with Congress to come up with a rational way forward.

Again, I want to thank you all for having me. I love being -- I cannot tell
you how I love being with entrepreneurs and dreamers and doers and people
who are running things, and managers, and to be with my fellow citizens as
we talk about a very important public policy, and that's rational,
comprehensive immigration reform.

Thank you all very much. See you back at the White House.

Q Mr. President, North Korea -- do you believe there should be --

THE PRESIDENT: April, would you like me to buy you a cup of coffee?

MS. RYAN: I would love you to.

THE PRESIDENT: What would you want in it?

MS. RYAN: Anything you want to give me.

THE PRESIDENT: What would you like in it, cream and sugar?

MS. RYAN: Sure, sir. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: It's coming your way. It's in the spirit of --

MS. RYAN: Spirit of what?

THE PRESIDENT: Spirit of reaching out.

MS. RYAN: All right. And you got money in your pocket. Do you typically
keep money in your pocket?

THE PRESIDENT: No, this is -- Jared let me have this. (Laughter.) I'll
repay him. The man offered to give me the coffee for free. You can't run a
business if you give your coffee away. I understand how commerce works. He
offers a product I want, I then pay for that product -- I'll handle that,
sir, thank you -- (laughter.)

MS. RYAN: Mr. President, thank you so much.

THE PRESIDENT: Anything for you.

MS. RYAN: Thank you. Presidential coffee, mmm.

END 11:08 A.M. EDT

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