By: Mark Fitzgerald Latino newspaper and magazine publishers in the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) will sign a proclamation on immigration reform Wednesday that reads remarkably similar to the proposals offered by President George W. Bush in his nationally televised address Monday night.
NAHP spokesman Oscar Reyes said the timing of the proclamation is just coincidental, since it was written before Bush floated his suggested changes. "But, yeah, I think in a way we are supporting Bush because we think this is the way to solve this situation," Reyes added in a telephone interview Tuesday.
"We take more or less the same approach the president is talking about; Keeping families together, talking about the economic contribution of undocumented workers," he said, adding that the NAHP supported the kind of temporary worker program Bush proposed.
The NAHP principles say a guest worker program would "strengthen our borders" by reducing the number of undocumented people sneaking into the country to find work. Law enforcement officers would then be able to "focus on criminals and drug dealers and terrorists and others who mean us harm," the principles read in part.
"We agree with President Bush that, for immigration reform to be effective, it must create a legal means for future workers to come to the United States," the NAHP proclamation states. "We support the creation of a worker visa program that would create a legal path for temporary workers who are fully protected under our labor laws, and who have the ability to earn permanent status over time."
At least 10 newspaper publishers will be on hand at the signing ceremony on the terrace of the U.S. Capitol, Reyes said.
According to an NAHP announcement, more than two dozen newspapers, representing about 1 million circulation, have agreed to publish the NAHP immigration reform principles as op-ed pieces.
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