Reform idea hits home

Deirdre Newman

Reaction to President George W. Bush’s immigration reform proposal

that would allow illegal immigrants to apply for temporary work

permits was mixed.

Bush’s proposal, unveiled Wednesday, was short on specifics since

those still need to be hashed out with Congress, but the plan mainly

calls for illegal immigrants to apply for temporary work permits.

Once they have the permits, they could apply for green cards, open

tax-deferred savings accounts and be covered by minimum-wage and

workplace retirement plans.

Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Ed Fawcett said the

concept seems beneficial for employers and employees.

“I think Bush’s immigration reform proposal is a step in the right

direction,” Fawcett said. “From my experience, I believe that this

could benefit employers in a number of different industries in

finding suitable employees and at the same time provide secure

employment opportunities to a number of immigrants, thus allowing

them to legally enter into the citizenship process.”

Resident Dan Worthington, an adamant opponent of the recently

repealed law that would have allowed illegal immigrants to get

drivers’ licenses, said the proposed program would set a bad

precedent.

“Our first problem is that once we start with amnesty, and that’s

what the president has proclaimed by covering it in ... flowery

language, he, in my opinion, opens the door to even more of the same

problem,” Worthington said. “People in the world aren’t stupid, and

if they know they can come to our borders and start walking across,

they’re going to come across the border.”

At the Job Center in Costa Mesa, where some illegal immigrants

look for work, Arnalfo Franco gave kudos to Bush’s proposal.

“It will help me a lot,” Franco said through interpreter Elder

Ramos.

Ramos also applauded Bush’s proposal, saying it would allow

illegal immigrants to find work more quickly.

“Now, it’s difficult because they don’t hire [anybody],” Ramos

said.

Councilman Allan Mansoor said Bush should concentrate more on

legal immigrants than illegal immigrants.

“In my opinion, he should make the process easier for those who

come here legally -- give incentives to come here legally, not

illegally,” Mansoor said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.