First it was a rumor, but like people says there is no smoke without a fire. So there is no rumor without a truth or a substantive story behind it. The government of the United States of America is considering the legalization of some illegal immigrants. However, some people can easily blow the whole thing out of proportion, making a mountain out a molehill without adequate knowledge and information on what is going on. This is especially so with those who stand to benefit from any immigration policy that can change their illegal status in the US.

Some called it amnesty, some says it is a limited amnesty, some calls it legalizing some illegal Migrants. The truth of the matter is that, Mr. George Bush as President of the United States of America, has been courting the love and friendship of the good hard working people of Mexico. It will be recalled that Mexico was the first country outside US visited by George Bush as president. First, he wanted the Mexicans to be able to drive their trucks and trailers across the boarder to any city in the US just like an average American truck driver. Now, he is working with Mr. Vicente Fox, President of Mexico, to regularize the irregular stay in US of some 4 million citizens of Mexico. These are especially those who have been working and staying in US illegally over the years. These people called by various names including ‘undocumented’ immigrants, would eventually benefit from the ‘regularization’ or ‘legalization’ or the ‘readjustment of status’ as currently been proposed by the Bush government. They would be granted the special privilege of applying for permanent legal status or what we all call the ‘green card’. From all indications, the discussions and decisions on this issue will be completed before the next visit of the Mexican president, Mr. Fox in the first week of September 2001. Then Mr. Bush is expected to announce his ‘Mexican amnesty’.

An inter-governmental body made up of the US Secretary of State Collin Powell, the Attorney General John Ashcroft and their Mexican counterparts have been mandated to discuss this and make recommendations before the September meeting of the two presidents in Washington. From government point of view this policy is aimed at helping the temporary agricultural workers. 50 percent to 80 percent of these farm laborers are from Mexico. The whole idea therefore centers on the notion that these ‘guest-workers’ as some calls them, would always be able to travel to and from across the boarder without fear or harassment or arrest by US immigration officials.

The above introductory explanation is germane because the good Book, the Bible says; ‘my people die for lack of knowledge’. A lot of other illegal immigrants especially from Africa, the Caribbean’s, Europe, Asia, Canada and South America, at the end of the day might not benefit from this policy. This is why Mr. Bush should be made to change his mind, to believe that it is not only people from Mexico that are useful to the economic and the general well being of America and the Americans.

It will be recalled that in 1986, the government of the United States of America granted legal status to about three million illegal immigrants from several countries and not just from Mexico. This is the popular amnesty the ghost of which is still-hunting many lovers of the American freedom. It is this, which is now at the back of many peoples’ mind that is making many already celebrating the Bush amnesty. We all have this responsibility to call and prevail on George Bush not to make the perceived freedom a mirage for many.

Let us unite behind our fellow immigrants from Mexico. Let us avoid the old divide and rule politics and policy. An immigrant is an immigrant point and time of arrival notwithstanding. Proximity to the American main land does not make one immigrant less illegal than the other. Or because one immigrant had to fly over twelve hours to get to the main land, does not make him more illegal than some who by mere accident of location, would only need to jump over a fence or crawl through a tunnel to get America. Mr. Bush should put to practice his ‘compassionate conservatism’. I think some body who had to fly at least twelve hours or travel two full days and spending about $2,000.00 dollars on airline ticket, to get to America, deserves more compassion than some body who just only need to jump over a fence or crawl through a tunnel to get to America.

Mr. Bush clearly knows what he is up to. The recent census figures in the US revealed a significant increase in the Latino population, even comparatively more than that of the African – American or any other ethnic or racial group for that matter. Mr. Bush though now at the White House, cannot forget that he lost the popular vote to his other presidential candidate Mr. Al Gore. He is the president today because of the ‘miracle’ workers in Florida. Now is the time to prepare for the next presidential race. He wants a re-election come 2004. But more than that, the 2002 congressional and gubernatorial elections are so crucial that neither party will leave any stone unturned to win at all levels. Now is the time to sow the seed that will bring the fruits of the increasingly large Latino voters. Governor John Bush of Florida will also seek re-election in the year 2002.

Traditionally, the Republicans have never been the best friends of immigrants – legal or illegal, Latinos or Africans or Asians or from any part of the world for that matter. With the recent electoral atrocities committed and directed against the African-American voters in Florida during the November 2000 elections and the feared counter attack or retaliation in the next elections, the Republicans as led by George Bush, felt the need of a safe seat with the Latinos. They have conceded rejection by the African-American voters. It is for this reason that the main stream conservative Republicans will support the current courtship of the Latinos with the Mexican amnesty against their aged held policy of ‘America for Americans’. After- all, the end justifies the means.

I overheard Mr. Bush during the current controversy over the stem cell research, talking about morality. Fine Mr. President, but do you have to see yourself as a moralist on one national issue and a racist on another? America is best described as a Rainbow Coalition in deed and in truth, where though tribe and tongue may differ, unity is the greatest strengthen of the Americans. Mr. President I need to remind you that on the pages of American history, it is boldly written in the indelible letters of gold, that there were the times when immigrants from other nations were paid to come to America or their fares paid for just to come to America to work and stay. No visa, no work permit or permanent residency status or ‘green card’ required. I am not even sure they had traveling passports. True or False? Mr. President, what is the percentage of those who can truly call themselves Americans in America that is, those whose ancestor did not cross the Pacific or the Atlantic Oceans, 80 percent or less than 20 percent? Who are these true Americans – the Bushes, the Clintons, the Reagans or the Carters or the Powells or the Ashcrofts?

Mr. President the simple point I am making here is that we all came from some where, some how and some time. I am happy you and the largest group of the Republicans say that you are Christians who read the holy Bible. Read with me from Psalms 24 verse 1, "The earth is the LORD’S, and the everything in it, the world, and all who live in it". That speaks volumes without the need of any theological interpretations.

Mr. President please get me clearly, I am not saying that America should throw its doors open at every entry point and boarder to allow everybody who wants to come in. No, far from it! Even there are rules and procedures for entering the kingdom of God. What I am saying is that, as God’s conditions and laws are not discriminatory, so, your own laws and procedures should not discriminate against any group of illegal immigrants. What is good for the geese is good for the ganders. As you have Mexican who are illegal immigrants working and living in the United States of America, so you have Nigerians, Ghanaians or Africans all together, we have people from the Caribbean’s, South America, Canada, Asia, Europe and even the Fiji and Kiribati Islands. We all belong to the human race running this rat race. When you talk of risk, only God knows how many Haitians have lost theirs lives in attempts to come to America from the Caribbean’s. I know you have high regards for family values, do you know how many wives or husbands are in America and their spouses cannot join them because of immigration policies; or how many families are separated in the name of immigration laws, policies and procedures. Do you know how many fully qualified professionals or mere able bodied men and women are working and making decent and meaningful contributions to the American economy and yet classified as illegal?

All we are saying, let there be full amnesty for all, unlimited and unrestricted by race, creed or color. To give amnesty only to the Mexicans in the name of politics is not only unfair; it is unethical and it is immoral. It is racist and discriminatory. You are not president over a section or national group in America, but over all including those that did not vote for you. The amnesty should be for all whom will be qualified by other generally acceptable standards without any form of discrimination implied or expressed in the name of nationality or place of origin.

If Mexico is to be considered for any special or preferential treatment because of its economic ties with the US due to her membership of the free trade privileges, no problem. This however should be handled differently without bringing in the issue of illegal immigration. That could be raised and discussed and agreement reached within the North America Free Trade Organization. There is no person or group outside the group that will feel unfairly treated if such preferential treatment does not fall under the purview of the present so-called limited amnesty to the illegal immigrants.

Any reasonable person will support limited conditions and restrictions for benefiting from universal amnesty. Any person who proofs his/her residence in US for two years, with visible means of livelihood, like working; and without any criminal records should be allowed to benefit from the proposed amnesty. The amnesty may only mean, being granted legal but not permanent resident status but with rights to work and good wages. After another two years such people should be qualified to apply for permanent residence and after another two years citizenship. By these, more than 8 millions so-called illegal or undocumented immigrants will be in a better shape to contribute their quota to the economic and overall growth and development of the country.

Mr. President Sir let me commit you to the words of one former American President who said, "Nearly all Americans have ancestors who braved the oceans -- liberty-loving risk takers in search of an ideal -- the largest voluntary migrations in recorded history. Across the Pacific, across the Atlantic, they came from every point on the compass -- many passing beneath the Statue of Liberty -- with fear and vision, with sorrow and adventure, fleeing tyranny or terror, seeking haven, and all seeking hope...Immigration is not just a link to America's past; it's also a bridge to America's future"

Mr. President, these words should speak to your heart. They should convict and convince you. They are ordinarily strong and potent enough to change your mind to make the amnesty for all comers; from across the Pacific and across the Atlantic and from every point on the compass; that is from the West, East, North and South of the world. In short, people from all nations should benefit from it. If you will show no respect for my words that I have written today or for me, because I am lowly and unknown to you, I have no grudge against you. However, I don’t expect you to do the same to those strikingly penetrating words spoken on November 29, 1990 by President George Walker Bush your father. A Yoruba proverb says, no child will ever dare say that the mouth of his father smells.

God Bless America.