President George W. Bush renewed his call Monday for a thorough reform of America's immigration laws, saying the US Congress must overhaul immigration in a way that is "safe, orderly and fair."
The US president told a gathering here of the National Restaurant Association - the industry that relies most heavily on immigrant labour - that he understands how high the stakes are.
"You know how essential it is that we have an immigration system that is safe, orderly and fair," Bush said. "I agree with you. And that's why I laid out a vision for comprehensive immigration reform."
"Your need for workers will be growing faster than the American labour force," the US president noted.
"This country needs a temporary worker program that will allow foreign workers to enter our country legally on a temporary basis to meet the needs of our economy and take the pressure off our border," Bush said.
The US president last week unveiled a five-point immigration reform plan that includes a guest worker program and a path for eventual citizenship for the estimated 11.5 million illegal immigrants currently in the United States.
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