Jennifer Kursman Columnist

After Sept. 11, 2001, the words "illegal immigrant" assumed an ominous meaning in America's lexicon. Mourning morphed into anger, and as bin Laden remained elusive, the search for a scapegoat culminated in a disgusting new brand of discrimination toward people who appeared to be of Arab descent. In Dearborn, Mich., a city with a large Arab population near my hometown, hundreds of people were senselessly interrogated by immigration agents seeking "inside information."

The Bush administration continued to mistreat immigrants ÷ until someone remembered that the presidential election was quickly approaching. Suddenly, issues that were ignored for most of Bush's term became the subject of debate, as Bush proposed granting temporary legal or guest- worker status to the estimated 8 to 14 million illegal immigrants nationwide.

Is the new plan a treat or a trap? First, let's examine some numbers. It's been estimated that the Hispanic population alone will represent 9 percent of the electorate in November. Here in Arizona, the 2000 census revealed that the Hispanic

population grew by 88 percent, giving the state an additional two electoral votes this year. Arizona, along with the rest of the Southwest, is expected to be a crucial swing state in the general election.

Zoom in on the actual proposal. Bush wants to give three-year permits to undocumented immigrants, who could then apply for green cards. What's the catch? Of those who apply for the prized green cards, roughly 140,000 ÷ a small percentage ÷ are successful. Waiting periods can be longer than 10 years. Furthermore, though some immigrants are employed by small businesses, many others work for large multinational corporations such as Wal-Mart (which has come under fire recently for its ever-so-just treatment of immigrant employees). Who contributed mega dollars to Bush's re-election campaign? Large corporations. Is there a pattern emerging here?

The new immigration plan is merely a way to retain cheap labor by dangling an intangible carrot out to illegals. Immigrants would be able to renew their temporary status, but obtaining a green card or full citizenship would remain a daunting task. Under the guise of "workers' rights," the new proposal gives false hope to those laboring for these corporations, while increasing the companies' source of inexpensive labor.

Bush can't even find support for his plan among fellow conservatives, who forecast that giving workers temporary status would create a new flood of illegal immigrants into the United States.

Proponents of the plan argue that documenting illegals would make it easier for U.S. intelligence to prevent terrorism. That ludicrous argument assumes that only the foreign-born commit "terrorist" crimes. Have we forgotten completely about Timothy McVeigh bombing the Oklahoma federal building? Is the Ku Klux Klan not a "terrorist" organization because its members are white supremacists?

Sadly, the post-Sept. 11 American media are quick to label racial minorities who commit crimes as "terrorists," while white crime slips under the radar.

John Lee Malvo, an illegal immigrant from Jamaica, received a lot of attention for his role in the Washington-area sniper shootings. News flash: Using the actions of a few to justify a generalization about an entire group is the basic definition of a stereotype.

If post-Sept. 11 America is truly more united, as some people claim, then "patriotism" should advocate tolerance toward all Americans ÷ including those who are not yet citizens. (I'm not saying that the deplorable actions of John Lee Malvo should be "tolerated." Rather, his deeds shouldn't cloud perceptions of Jamaican-Americans).

Moreover, the timing of the proposal sheds insight into its true motives. If the administration were truly concerned with granting amnesty to illegal immigrants, why were many Dearborn Arabs deported without fair trials in the wake of Sept. 11?

Bush isn't deeply concerned with the plight of Arab immigrants, or the illegal immigrant population in general. He would rather court the Hispanic population in the Southwest swing states, which are integral to the election ÷ but in reality, only big business stands to gain.

The guest-worker proposal is simply an attempt to drum up positive public relations among swing voters, and it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Jennifer Kursman is a biochemistry freshman. She can be contacted at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.