U.S. – Australia Relations

United States, Australia Fighting Terrorism, Supporting Democracy

Washington, D.C. — 16 May 2006

Bush also discusses immigration reform during visit of Australia's Howard

By Jane Morse Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States and Australia -- steadfast allies in the War on Terror -- are working together to support Afghanistan's and Iraq's fledgling democracies, President Bush says. During various press availabilities May 16 with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Bush said the United States appreciates "the commitment of Australian troops" in Iraq. He added that the United States is pleased with the progress being made on building the capacity of Iraqi security forces but that "the United States will make decisions about our troop levels based upon conditions on the ground."

Bush said that the War on Terror has "reaffirmed the strength of our alliance, yet our alliance is only one component of our broad partnership." He cited the 2004 U.S.-Australia free trade agreement and joint cooperation on reducing global trade barriers and building the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

"Our two nations are closer than ever," President Bush said.

IMMIGRATION REFORM

Fielding questions on immigration reform, President Bush said his proposed temporary worker program is vital to border security.

"[T]e temporary worker program goes hand in hand with border security," he said.

A temporary worker program, the president said, "is really important to border security because we don't want people trying to sneak into the country. It seems rational to me to say if you're coming to work, come to work in a legal way on a temporary basis so you're not trying to sneak across."

He reiterated his stance that the U.S. National Guard should provide assistance not involving law enforcement to the U.S. Border Patrol. "It's very important for the American people to know it's the Border Patrol that's going to be on the front line of apprehending people trying to sneak into our country," Bush said.

The president emphasized: "[W]e're not going to militarize our border. Mexico is a friend. But what we are going to do is use assets necessary to make sure that we can assure the American people that the border is secure."

Bush also cautioned that Americans must "never lose sight of the thing that makes America unique, which is we're a land of immigrants.."

"[W]e're not going to discriminate against people," he said, but he dismissed the idea of amnesty for illegal immigrants now in the United States. "Amnesty would mean that more people would try to come and sneak into our country in the hopes that they would be granted automatic citizenship," he said.

Illegal immigrants residing in the United States nonetheless should be given opportunities to prove length of U.S. employment, learn English and pay a fine, Bush said. Illegal immigrants, he said, should "be able to get in line -- not the head of the line, but the back of the line -- in order to become a citizen."

The transcripts of Bush's welcoming remarks and the Bush-Howard joint press availability are available on the White House Web site.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Original document from www.state.gov.

Last update Monday, 19 November 2007