Nothing new, no help, no hope for the undocumented already in the country. That's the bottom line as Caribbean elected officials and immigration advocates react to what U.S. President George Bush is hailing as "comprehensive immigration reform" for the country, the millions of undocumented immigrants and for the businesses, which hire them. And as Dr. Kendal Stewart, Chairman of the City Council's Immigration Committee, prepares to hold hearings on the mix of Bush's proposals, it seems clear that the result is predictable: thumbs down on them. "There is nothing concrete that has changed from what he proposed nine months to a year ago," said the panel's Chairman, a Brooklyn representative at City Hall. "He isn't really dealing with the issue of what should happen with those who are already in the country, except to say to them you can have a visa to work for a few years but you must return home. That's not a solution. It isn't helpful and it isn't realistic. People must be given some hope that after so many years they can stay in the country with their families. That's the humane way to deal with it" The New York Immigration Coalition agrees. "Dubbing his "a 'comprehensive immigration reform, the President threw together an assortment of dubious border and interior enforcement measures with a temporary worker program that kicks workers out of the United States after six years," the Coalition said in a statement. "Although the President tried to co-opt the language of reformers, his plan offers neither comprehensive nor real reform, but rather a grab-bag of tried and failed measures wrapped in tough rhetoric." In his plan, which he outlined in Tucson, Arizona on Monday, President Bush said that illegal immigrants could get a three-year work visa, but must eventually leave the country. At the same time, Bush said that the addition of about 1,000 border patrol agents should end the flood of illegal immigrants who cross the border with Mexico. The President also promised that with new state of the art technology, including overhead surveillance and infrared cameras, the U.S. should be able to take control of its borders. But Stewart said that the proposal lacked "humanity," meaning that it didn't addressed the concerns of parents and others who paid taxes, have children in school, and who saw the U.S. as their home. "It doesn't address the problems immigrants from the Caribbean, for instance, face in their quest to stay in this country," declared Stewart. "It must deal with the fact that people are highly unlikely to return home in any case but go underground again once the period of the guest-worker effort ends. That's not a solution and I am confident that when we hold hearings on immigration issues again, we would eventually get a majority of the City Council to go along with expressing our rejection of the President's plan. It's really an empty plan that offers little hope to people." The Immigration Coalition used different words to articulate an identical position. "Far from being compassionate, President Bush's plan crushes the dreams of millions of immigrants who, like generations of immigrants before them, hoped that their hard work and dedication to the American dream would earn them the right to call this country home," added the advocacy organization which backs amnesty for the undocumented already in the country. Like Stewart and the Coalition, New York State Assemblyman Nick Perry of Brooklyn complained that the President's proposals stop far short of what was required to help immigrants. "It is unrealistic to expect people to leave after the guest worker program ends," said Perry. "There is no thought being given to the real needs of hardworking people who pay taxes and otherwise contribute to the country. There should be a clear path for them to be allowed to change their immigration status. We are talking about law abiding people here who make a daily contribution to America and who are performing valuable roles." Stewart said that instead of trying to force people out of the country, the Republicans in Congress should strive to help remove the roadblocks to a decent legalization effort. "That's what's needed at this time," he added. "Hopefully, if the Democrats regain control of the House of Representative we would see a better approach." Reprinted from caribworldradio.com