White House Position on a Temporary Worker Program

In a White House Fact Sheet, President Bush explained his support for a temporary alien worker program, without provisions for amnesty, as a key element to immigration reform legislation now being considered by Congress.

The president contends that a temporary worker program, providing a “legal channel for those entering America to do an honest day's labor,” would improve border security by reducing the number of people attempting to cross the border illegally. “That would help take pressure off the border and free up law enforcement to focus on the greatest threats to our security - terrorists, drug dealers, and other criminals,” states the White House.

In his radio address to the nation on Saturday, President Bush stated, “As we debate the immigration issue, we must remember there are hard-working individuals, doing jobs that Americans will not do, who are contributing to the economic vitality of our country.”

Opposes Amnesty
President Bush, however, condemns temporary worker amnesty as encouraging “waves of illegal immigration,” thus reducing the effectiveness of border security programs. “For the sake of justice and the sake of border security, the President firmly opposes amnesty.”

Also See: Bush Speaks on Immigration Reform Law
Anti-Immigration Rhetoric At Odds With Data
House Version of Bill Draws Massive Protests
Immigration in America: Protest & Support for HR 4437