Carrying Capacity Network Action Alert Bush Administration wants Amnesty and Social Security Benefits for Illegal Aliens!

March 2004

– Support CCN's Efforts On the Hill–

As CCN first predicted in our December, 2003 E-mail Alert, the Bush Administration has released a plan which would eventually legalize millions of illegal aliens through an ostensible guestworker program. President Bush also proposed making U.S. jobs available to anyone, anywhere, if an employer could not find a worker in the United States willing to accept the job on the terms offered. Further, he wants to pay social security benefits to illegal aliens. The repercussions of this plan would be devastating for American workers, taxpayers, schools, the environment, as well as our quality of life.

Amnesty Threat Looms

The Bush Administration proposal is characterized as a 'guest-worker program', but it is really an amnesty. The plan stipulates that illegal aliens would be granted a three year guest-worker visa, which could be renewed every three years for an unspecified period. Entire families of illegal aliens could be granted legal status in the process. And these admittees would be added to the million plus immigrants already admitted annually!

Think of it! If each of the 10 million legalized illegal aliens on the guestworker program brought 5 family members into the country, the U.S. population could increase by some 50 million people quickly.

Additionally, the Bush proposal omits any enforcement procedure for deportation. Without the enforcement arm, the saying, "there is nothing more permanent than a temporary guestworker," would become a stark reality.

"Our current limits of legal immigration are too low. My administration will work with Congress to increase the annual number of green cards that can lead to citizenship."

– President Bush, January 2004.

Mexico's President Fox is predictably excited that millions of illegal aliens could "come home" to Mexico to see their families and return to their jobs in the U.S. without impediment.

Historically, amnesties in our country have had significantly negative results. Given its size, the results of President Bush's 'guest worker' proposal would far exceed the negative consequences experienced from past amnesties.

Ominous Threat to U.S. Workers

Under the Bush "guest-worker program", employers would be allowed to seek an unlimited number of ‘willing employees' across borders, or from overseas, to work for substandard pay. No other interpretation is plausible for President Bush's words. For sure, American workers would suffer from the enactment of this plan. Harvard professor, George Borjas, found that mass immigration alone costs American workers $152 billion annually from wage depression and job loss. Under the plan, U.S. employers would be required to prove that no citizen will "take the job". There are no guidelines explaining what proof is required or acceptable.

By depressing standards and wages, U.S. based employers could create wages so low only foreign workers would take the low-paying jobs. Result: The unemployment rate steadily increases while job availability significantly decreases.

Social Security Benefits for Illegal Aliens from Our Tax Dollars

President Bush and Mexican President, Vicente Fox , are working toward finalizing a "totalization" agreement. This would allow a person who worked in the U.S. (legally or illegally) to return to Mexico to live, and count the years that they worked in the U.S. toward determination of U.S. Social Security benefit eligibility and benefit amount.

In order to qualify for Social Security benefits, Mexicans and others would only be required to prove they worked in the U.S. for 18 months or more legally or illegally. Under such a plan, persons who worked a minimum of 10 years in the U.S. would automatically qualify for full benefits, even if they worked the entire 10 years illegally. In addition, those who also worked in Mexico for a specific period of time could collect benefits in Mexico, in addition to benefits from the U.S.

If the plan is approved, the results for our Social Security system would be devastating. It is estimated that at least $720 million U.S. dollars in social security checks would be sent to Mexico annually. A totalization agreement would further weaken our severely compromised and financially strained Social Security system.

Do the Math

The U.S. population is growing by 1.2% per year, which means that our population doubles every 60 years. If the Bush proposal is approved, the United States population could double every 30 or 40 years! The bottom line is that the U.S. population could reach half a billion people in a mere 35 years! This would mean accelerating problems across the board – further degradation of public lands, decrease in the quality of life of U.S. citizens, the need for more schools, roads, prisons, water, and food. There would be an overwhelming increase in sprawl and traffic congestion, taxes and unemployment.

Strong Push for a Moratorium is Critical

Defeating the Bush "guest-worker" proposal with an aggressive push to end mass immigration through a Moratorium is essential. Even if we do not get a moratorium bill passed this session, pushing for it will generate pressure to stop the amnesty and Social Security for illegals, We cannot afford another amnesty!

The Mass Immigration Reduction Act of 2003, H.R. 946, is essential in the push to significantly reduce mass immigration. This Moratorium Bill calls for the reduction of legal immigration from over one million annual admissions to 300,000. Urge your lawmakers to co-sponsor an amendment to cap the numbers at 100,000 annually for the next 5 years (the highest number which would allow the U.S. population to ever stabilize).

Immigration Overhaul or Overflow?

The Bush "guest-worker" proposal only encourages millions more to enter our country illegally hoping for yet another amnesty. With an endless supply of visas, renewable every 3 years for an indefinite period of time, increased legal immigration, and the possibility of entire families of "guest-worker" gaining legal status, we are looking toward a bleak future unless we stop this amnesty.

A Roper ASW Poll revealed that 83% of Americans believe that illegal alien property should be seized, and that the illegals should be deported. Let's tell our Representative and Senators what we think! CCN staff is intensively working to stop the proposal, and we need your help.