January 6, 2004

Bush to Announce Proposal for Immigration Reform

President Bush has announced that he will outline tomorrow his plans for immigration reform, focusing on the thousands of illegal essentially-skilled workers in the US. The reintroduction of the issue, coming a week before the visit of Mexican President Vicente Fox to the US, is expected to return the issue to Congress and to the immigration debate. While details of the Administration's plans are not known, it is expected that the plan will include some type of earned path to permanent residence for those already here, as well as some type of work status for future immigration flows. The details will have to be examined and compared to the proposals for earned legalization and work visas currently pending in Congress.

GT has been an active participant in the immigration reform debate for several years; shareholder Laura Reiff has been a founding member and co-chair of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, working with the Administration to reintroduce their participation in this process. We welcome this sign that after two years of virtual silence on the issue of immigration, the Administration is once again recognizing the importance of balancing national security with economic and social stability.

GT will provide details of the President's plan as they become available.