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Press Briefing on the President's Speech on Immigration
— Monday, May 15, 2006 — Q But you said it's not amnesty. If it's not amnesty -- they have to have not done anything illegal, but it is amnesty for the fact they did something illegal -- MR. SNOW: It's a funny kind of amnesty where this is a misdemeanor. This is a misdemeanor where you can get a stiff fine, where you're going to pay taxes, where you're going to go to the back of the line if you want to become a citizen. If you break the law, you're out. You've got to hold a job continuously. That is probably stiffer than any similar set of circumstances one can think of. Amnesty -- 1986, or whatever -- amnesty is, we forget about it, everybody stay. We'll start all over. Q But didn't they break the law by coming here? MR. KAPLAN: And they'll pay their obligation to society. MR. SNOW: Yes, you pay a fine for breaking the law. Q You all are making this argument, but as you know there's a good many Republicans who are saying -- who take the argument, but say it's still a question of how long ago did you break the law to come into this country. So I understand the argument you're making, but you're up against -- particularly House Republicans -- who are saying, sorry, no deal here, this is a non-starter. So how do you overcome that? I know the argument. MR. SNOW: Well, the political process is going to have to work its way out. But I think what the President is trying to do is to insert a little bit of precision in the use of the term amnesty. There is a significant difference. We've already pointed out the benchmarks that people are going to have to surmount if they want to become eligible to be citizens. I mean, this gives them an opportunity to stand in line for, what, a dozen years. White House Press Corps | Press Briefing | Tony Snow | News Media | Immigration
Posted by WhiteHousePressCorps.org @ 10:09 PM
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