Republicans Softening on Immigration?

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/09/...on-farmworkers

For Republicans, immigration reform usually means "securing the border" now and doing everything else later. So it's news that two House Republicans are floating legislation that could begin to shift the conversation.

Immigration hardliner Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) is planning to introduce a bill that modifies an existing guest-worker program, potentially bringing 500,000 foreign workers into the US legally; Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) has a similar bill in the works. Smith's measure modifies the current H-2A visa program used by many agricultural employers to bring workers into the US, creating a new classification called an H-2C (how, exactly, is unclear). Currently, farmers have to apply months in advance for these temporary visas. In a volatile industry like farming, where labor demands can be difficult to estimate, that's no small feat.

So why the change of heart from Smith? Here's the Wall Street Journal's Miriam Jordan:

Stepped-up lobbying by farm groups on the issue amounts to a frank admission about their dependence on a foreign-born work force—whether legal or not. Their argument is that most American workers have shunned farm jobs because many are of a seasonal, migratory nature as well as being physically arduous.

But concern is also rising for a wider swath of corporate America about the need for a more business-friendly rationalization of immigration policy. Other sectors like fast food, hotels and construction, which also employ low-skilled workers, have been subjected to federal enforcement actions that have resulted in the loss of employees who are in the country illegally.

Will Smith and Lungren's proposals fix a broken system? Not likely. As the Journal points out, over 750,000 people are employed as field workers illegally each year. That's versus the 45,000 farm workers that come to the US on H-2A visas. Even legalizing half a million temporary workers wouldn't be enough to meet the current demand for farm labor.

Guys, we have grounds for compromise; the GOP wants to improve this area of visas and advance E-verify while the Democrats, many of them, want at least the DREAM Act. It is now up to the Congressional Democrats and Obama to pressure for compromise on this. It can be done.

Interesting, I think they figured out whose vote they need to win.

Nice point. But, I think Republicans will still seem quite rigid, so this is where the President needs to jump in; he has to annoy the be-jesus out of them to get something done.

Again, the grounds for compromise are there. Democrats just need to be really careful how they approach the GOP about the issue; Don't ridicule or make fun of Repblican claims on border security. Be open to those claims and see how those demands can be fulfilled. Durbin needs to be open to the idea of improving the current text of the DA to encourage the GOP to compromise.

^^

True. Dems....especially the President...has to strike while the iron is hot!

Looking good...

not looking good.....typical capitalism....typical exploitation. forget abt the guest worker program. y not legalize and hence you have the necessary workers. but guess what: it is good to have illegals to mow their lawns for bellow minimum wage...it is good to have illegals to work in farms, and big factories to increase revenues( don't have to provide benefits, right pay). the guest worker program most of the time goes toward mediocre work ( i might b wrong, feel free to correct me). We have a problem and they are failing to correct it...focus focus focus... don't provide patches...

Latinos please make more babies..

That'll show 'em who's boss.

I thought we had AgJobs for this?

Once again, modify our demands. No citizenship, no public benefits, no immigrating extended family, just green cards and social security. That isn't amnesty its basically saying help the U.S. economy all you want and grow this country and don't take anything from it. PLEAD THAT THE DEMOCRATS MODIFY THE DEMANDS AND IF THEY DON'T THEN WE KNOW THEY ARE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE CAUSE THEY THEMSELVES DON'T WANT REFORM.