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Senators Unmoved by Bush Bid to Save Immigration Bill
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Nine other Republican senators delivered a letter to the president, suggesting that a push to secure the borders could yield political dividends for a future bill.
"We respectfully ask that your Administration enforce the border security laws that have already been authorized by Congress regardless of whether the Senate passes the immigration reform bill," the letter said. "Securing the border is the best way to restore trust with the American people and facilitate future improvements of our immigration policy."
Bush did not indicate whether he would request more money or change his border policies. Instead, he used charm to try to disarm his opponents. He told Sessions, for instance, that he plans to show up at a political fundraiser for him, despite the senator's dogged stance against his immigration policies.
Cabinet officials were not so polite. As Bush was meeting with senators, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff adamantly defended the administration's record on border security. His department is on track to hire 18,000 additional Border Patrol agents and complete 370 miles of fencing along the southern border by the end of next year, he said. He added that a series of workplace raids in recent weeks has yielded more controversy among immigrant rights groups than praise from conservative critics.
Yesterday, federal agents raided the offices of a food-processing plant in Oregon, placing about 100 workers under administrative arrest for possible deportation.
But, Chertoff said, a broader crackdown on illegal immigration "is a hostage" to Senate intransigence.
The beleaguered immigration bill contains authorization for a computerized employment verification system that is crucial to stopping the hiring of undocumented workers, he said. He noted that because 40 percent of illegal immigrants come in legally but overstay their visas, no amount of border security could stem that tide.
"The biggest help I could give to our guys on the border is attacking interior enforcement and the magnet that draws people here," Chertoff said. "And that is a hostage to this bill."
