President George Bush set five criteria he says must be met for comprehensive U.S. immigration reform to become a reality. In remarks prepared for his weekly national radio address, the Republican president said the United States must: keep trying to improve border security; hold employers accountable for the workers they hire; create a temporary worker program; resolve the status of millions of illegal immigrants already hear “without amnesty and without animosity;” and “finally, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot.”
Bush said talks with leaders from both parties in recent weeks have been productive. “We’ve been addressing our differences in good faith, and we’re building consensus,” Bush said.
The president said the nation needs a system that “meets the legitimate needs of workers and employers” and one that “treats people with dignity and helps newcomers assimilate into our society.” Bush said all of the elements must be addressed “or none of them will be solved at all.”
Concerning the American “melting pot,” Bush cited the need for Americans to share ideals, appreciate the country’s history, “and an ability to speak and write the English language.”
