In the midst of the Republican National Convention this week in New York, some conservative Republicans are realizing that their ideas on the problem of millions of illegal immigrants in the United States are not as congruent with Bush’s new guest worker plan as previously thought.  Bush’s immigration program, which will be endorsed by the GOP’s platform committee and presented to the convention this week, aims to legalize eight to ten million of the United States’ illegal immigrants with temporary three-year visas, in order to incorporate these immigrants into the U.S. economy. 

The official position the party holds regarding immigration is supportive when it comes to reforming the immigration system to make it safe and legal, and also addresses the needs of national security.  The platform mentions President Bush’s proposal for a new temporary worker program that applies when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs.

The platform states that the President’s temporary guest worker program would allow undocumented immigrants to emerge from anonymity and legally participate in America’s economy.  The program would allow undocumented individuals that are currently in the United States to apply for citizenship in the same manner as those who apply from outside the United States.

Although the platform does promote the President’s proposal, it insists there must be strong workplace enforcement with tough penalties against employees and employers who violate immigration laws.  The Republican Party officially opposes amnesty because it would encourage illegal immigration and would give an unfair advantage for those people that have violated laws that the United States has in place.

The platform states that reconnaissance cameras, border patrol agents, and unmanned aerial flights have all been increased at the border to better ensure the United States only through legal means that allow for verification of their identity.  Additionally, Border Patrol agents now have extensive new powers to deport illegal aliens without having first to go through the process of allowing the illegal alien to have a hearing before an immigration judge.  The Republican Party’s platform emphasizes its support of these enforcement efforts, and at the same time welcomes immigrants who arrive in the United States through the legal channels.

Opponents to Bush’s proposal declare that the plan works as an amnesty program, pardoning and rewarding aliens who have broken immigration laws.  Furthermore, they state that the plan would only further encourage immigrants towards future illegal immigration.

However, Republicans in favor of the guest worker plan affirm that it is not an amnesty program.  Instead they advocate that the program is designed to allow those immigrants who already have jobs to contribute to the U.S. economy and work for willing employers by obtaining three-year renewable workers visas, with the understanding that once the visas expire the immigrants would have to return to their country. 

As for mixed feeling within the party, some Republicans vow to oppose the guest worker plan during this week’s Republican National Convention, such as GOP Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado.