President George W. Bush said comprehensive immigration overhaul must begin with border security and include a guest-worker program and a means for many of the undocumented workers in the U.S. to gain legal status.
“When immigrants assimilate, they advance in our society, realize their dreams and add to the unity of America,” Bush said in his weekly radio address. “We can fix the problem of illegal immigration and deliver an immigration system that is rational and compassionate.” Bush traveled to Mission, Texas, along the Mexican border on Aug. 3 to promote his immigration plan and get a first-hand look at some of the tools Border Patrol agents are using to catch illegal immigrants.
The president in a speech in Mission said he won’t back away from insisting that any change in immigration laws include both border security and a path to citizenship.
Trying to spur the Republican-controlled Congress to make progress on the legislation, Republican Bush said that making the border secure doesn’t conflict with welcoming the contributions of immigrants.
Congress remains at an impasse on final legislation because the House Republicans are insisting that border security must come first. The Senate favors a broader proposal that is aligned with what the president seeks. Senators this week voted to spend $1.8 billion to build a barrier along portions of the U.S. border with Mexico.
In his radio address, Bush said the government has deployed 6,000 National Guard Members to assist Border Patrol agents, allowing them to provide more law enforcement.
“Rational and comprehensive immigration reform must begin with border security, and we have more to do,” Bush said. “So I’ve asked Congress to fund dramatic increases in manpower and technology for the Border Patrol. We will add 6,000 new Border Patrol agents.” -Editor: Hughey.
To contact the reporter on this story: Catherine Dodge in Crawford, Texas, at (1)(202) 654-1828 or Cdodge1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Ken Fireman at (1) (202) 624-1978 or kfireman@bloomberg.net -0- Aug/05/2006 14:06 GMT 08-05-06 1507GMT
