Immigrant rights groups are voicing their opposition to the president’s new migrant worker plan, which would allow undocumented workers to buy $3,500 permits every three years to remain in the country. Democrats and the Catholic Church have also criticized the proposed policy, which is harsher and costlier than a previous proposal supported by Bush.
AP via Yahoo:
Organizers expect several thousand people at an immigrant rights rally [in Los Angeles] on Saturday, saying many illegal immigrants are angry about a White House plan that would grant them work visas but require them to return home and pay hefty fines to become legal U.S. residents.
Immigrant rights advocates say many of the area’s illegal immigrants feel betrayed by President Bush, who they had long considered an ally.
“People are really upset,” said Juan Jose Gutierrez, president of Los Angeles-based Latino Movement USA, one of several organizers of Saturday’s rally. “For years, the president spoke in no uncertain terms about supporting immigration reform … then this kind of plan comes out and people are so frustrated.”
