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GUEST: Bill Chandler, Executive Director of MIRA, the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance

In this week’s State of the Union address President Bush pledged to work with Congress to pass “comprehensive immigration reform” which includes his intent to implement a temporary guest worker program while at the same time increasing the number of border patrol agents and calling for workplace enforcement of immigration law. President Bush also vaguely alluded to a pathway for citizenship for some of the millions of undocumented immigrants already in the United States, but stopped short of calling for amnesty. Immigration has been raised consistently in Bush’s past State of the Union addresses. Meanwhile, pro-immigrant and labor rights activists have drafted a proposal of their own for immigration reform aimed at the 110th Congress. Adopted by the Mississippi based Immigrants Rights Alliance, or MIRA, the proposal for immigration legislation sharply contrasts with President Bush’s vision for reform on many key points. Concepts of the proposal include full legalization for all undocumented people, no expansion of guest worker programs, repealing employer sanctions and an end to the militarization of the U.S. – Mexico border.

Visit MIRA’s website at www.yourmira.org