We can be a lawful society and a welcoming society simultaneously. to use the Presidents phrase. but we cannot be a welcoming society for a limitless number of Latin Americas poor. without seriously compromising our own future and indeed the future of the many Latinos already here. Yet. that is precisely what the President and many Senators. Democrat and Republican. support by enforcing large guestworker programs and an expansion of todays legal system of visas. And in practice these proposals would result in substantial increases in lowskilled immigrants. What are other countries doing? I will wrap up with these thoughts. What are other nations around the world doing as they consider their immigration policies? In Australia. immigrant applications are considered under either the general migration program. which includes skilled or migrant spouses and those sponsored by family members already settled in Australia. or the humanitarian refugee program. For fiscal 20042005. the Australian Government set a goal of 120.000 migrants. far less than our number. 42.000 places for family members. 72.000 for skilled business migrants: and 13.000 for the humanitarian and refugee programthough actual arrivals were just over 123.000. Under the skilled migration program in Australia. applicants are given points for different criteria. In the fiscal year 2004. the pass mark for general skilled migration was 120 points.
Identified stereotypes
Limitless number of Latin Americans poor compromising the future.