McCain calls for guest worker visas

UNION CITY - Republican presidential candidate John McCain joined Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in calling today for comprehensive immigration reform, including guest worker visas to bring employees to California's Silicon Valley and the state's vast agricultural fields.

The two men brought up the issue at McCain's prompting during a global competitiveness roundtable featuring California technology executives and entrepreneurs.

Asked by Silicon Valley panelists on what he would do to grant more visa for skilled technology workers, McCain broadly advocated the comprehensive immigration reform plan he had backed with Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy in Congress.

The same issue brought McCain intense criticism during the Republican presidential primary from conservatives who assailed him as soft on illegal immigration and an advocate of amnesty.

But today McCain, the now presumptive GOP presidential nominee, said an immigration program is needed that protects America's borders and national security. While he called for punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants, he also advocated a humane approach that treats illegal workers as "God's children."

McCain said they should be allowed to seek legal status in a "humane and comprehensive fashion" through a program "they can count on and trust."

Responding to a question about so-called H1-B visas for Silicon Valley workers, McCain said: "We have to attract the best and brightest minds. It isn't just H1-B visas. In our agricultural sector, they can't find workers as well. We need a temporary agriculture (worker) program."

Schwarzenegger echoed McCain's remarks after the Arizona senator asked his opinion on the topic.

"We need to change the system. All this is part of a comprehensive immigration reform. You can't piecemeal this thing," Schwarzenegger said.

While the governor said, "securing the border is extremely important" to California he added: "You have to have the courage to do this kind of immigration reform so we can bring people into this country legally."

Schwarzenegger said he supported a pathway to legal status so that more people can have "legal drivers licenses" and "everyone would have bank accounts...and there would be background checks so that there would be no criminal element in this country."

Afterwards, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman hosted a fundraiser for McCain expected to draw 350 donors and $2 million in contributions.

McCain touched down in California Wednesday for a fundraiser at the Irvine Marriott in Orange County hosted by real estate developer and former Seattle Mariners baseball team owner George Argyros. Later Thursday, he is to appear at a Stockton airport rally and fundraiser at the home of developer Alex Spanos, owner of the San Diego Chargers football team.