CALIFORNIA YANKEE

President Bush Won't Accept Enforcement Only

The Washington Times reports President Bush said yesterday that he would not accept any bill from Congress that does not include a guest-worker program and provisions to grant citizenship to at least some of the 12 million illegal aliens already in the country:

"Part of my job is to lead, and I did last night," Mr. Bush said. "I said I want a comprehensive bill because I understand there needs to be a comprehensive bill in order to make -- in order for us to achieve the objective."

The President is joining the Senate in trying to roll over Republican House members, who with the assistance of 36 Democrats passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. That legislation is a hodgepodge of measures designed to regain control of the border and slow the flow of illegal immigrants across the border:

Makes illegal presence in the United States a crime, it is currently a civil offense.

Requires employers to verify the legal status of their workers. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), made it unlawful for employers to knowingly hire or employ aliens not eligible to work and required employers to check the identity and work eligibility documents of all new employees. Under IRCA, if the documents provided by an employee reasonably appear on their face to be genuine, an employer has met its document review obligation. The easy availability of counterfeit documents has turned IRCA into a sham.

Ends the "catch and release" policy for non-Mexican illegal aliens.

Authorizes the building of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border in parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Imposes tougher penalties for smuggling and re-entry.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take all actions necessary and appropriate to achieve and maintain operational control over the entire land and maritime border.

In this morning's issue of MSNBC's “First Read,” reports on the rift between the President and those supporting enforcement first:

A GOP aide said the Guard proposal is like "the shiny piece of metal on the spinner lure," and that the President has "no credibility" on this issue with conservatives.

[. . .]

Back in October, Viq reminds us, 81 House conservatives wrote to Bush and insisted that any guest-worker program come after passage of a border enforcement bill. In the wake of the massive protests that have occurred in the interim, positions have only hardened on that score. The only way that a bill providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants can pass the House would appear to be without conservative support -- and with the help of Democrats, something that GOP leadership is loathe to do. Viq reminds us that Speaker Dennis Hastert has said in the past that as a matter of policy, the only way any bill passes the House is with "a majority of the majority."

Viq points out that there is precedent for rolling the conservative ranks and passing a bill with the help of Democrats -- in No Child Left Behind and, to a lesser degree, the Medicare prescription-drug benefit. But both happened back when Bush was doing much better in the polls and could effectively twist arms among Republicans. And Democrats, Viq points out, will be reluctant to hand Bush and Republicans any kind of victory six months before election day.

Viq is right about the reluctance of the Democrats. Remember who scuttled April's immigration reform compromise, and why.

Public Split On President Bush's Immigration Speech

The public is split on President Bush's Immigration address, half disappointed, half impressed. That's the finding of an overnight Zogby poll.

Overall, 47% said they liked the Monday speech, while 47% said they were disappointed.

About seven in 10 Republicans said they generally liked the speech, while 29% said they were disappointed. Among Democrats, 70% said they were disappointed, while 19% said they liked the speech, a slightly higher percentage of Democrats than usually support Bush. Eleven percent of Democrats said they were undecided.

Independents were split down the middle, with about half liking the speech and half disappointed. Among moderates, 34% said they liked the speech, while 58% said they were disappointed.

Asked whether they thought the Bush plan meant the illegal immigration problem would be solved, 47% said it is more likely to get solved, while 49% said they think the plan makes it less likely to be solved.

The Zogby Interactive poll was conducted after the President’s Monday night speech and has a margin of error of +/– 3.5 percent.

President Bush's Support Helps Senate Immigration Bill

President Bush's support for an immigration reform compromise is seen as helping passage in U.S. Senate.

Monday night, the president sought to assure conservatives and announced he would deploy up to 6,000 National Guard troops along the Southern border. Today the Senate, by a 55-40 vote, rejected a call to follow the House and secure the nation’s borders before tackling rights for millions of illegal aliens.

It's hard to envision how the House and Senate bills can be reconciled:

The Senate bill couples border security and tough enforcement with a guest worker program and measures that would give millions of illegal foreign residents, mostly from Latin America, a chance to become U.S. citizens. Bush's outlined similar goals in his speech.

The House bill, in contrast, concentrates on border security and enforcement and makes illegal presence in the country a felony instead of a civil offense. Millions of people could be deported under the measure, which has drawn huge street protests from Hispanic groups and their supporters.

According to Knight Ridder, the president is gambling that beefing up security at the border will make it easier for conservative Republicans in the House to accept a guest-worker program and a path toward legalization for many illegal immigrants already here. President Bush may lose that gamble.

Earlier news reports emphasized that the President's speech didn't win over House Republicans:

"I have real concerns about moving forward with a guest- worker program or a plan to address those currently in the United States illegally until we have adequately addressed our serious border-security problems," said House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican.

President Bush, the Senate, business leaders and immigrant rights activists are too far ahead of the American public on what to do about the ever increasing flood of illegal aliens.

As I have posted before history has proven that legalization of illegal aliens is a mistake. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 made nearly 4 million illegals eligible for legal residency. That policy was an obvious failure because now there about 12 million "undocumented workers" In the U.S. If these millions of illegal aliens are legalized now, then we should only expect that twenty years from now we will have to consider legalizing 30 million more.

Granting amnesty, or legalizing illegal aliens encourages the violation of our laws, and perpetuates illegal immigration. The message legalization sends is get into the U.S. any way you can, eventually the U.S. will make you legal.

The President's Immigration Address

I watched the President's speech on immigration reform. I was disappointed. I don't think the speech did anything to move the debate on immigration reform along. The only thing new was the deployment of 6,000 members of the National Guard to the southern border. I don't see how 6,000 Guardsmen will make much of a difference.

I have been a big supporter of President Bush, but I disagree with him on how to reform immigration. We simply must demonstrate that we can control the border before we can talk about rights for the 12 million illegal aliens already in the country. Nevertheless, I give President Bush credit for his willingness to take on this very difficult issue.

The President's remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good evening. I have asked for a few minutes of your time to discuss a matter of national importance – the reform of America’s immigration system.

The issue of immigration stirs intense emotions – and in recent weeks, Americans have seen those emotions on display. On the streets of major cities, crowds have rallied in support of those in our country illegally. At our southern border, others have organized to stop illegal immigrants from coming in. Across the country, Americans are trying to reconcile these contrasting images. And in Washington, the debate over immigration reform has reached a time of decision. Tonight, I will make it clear where I stand, and where I want to lead our country on this vital issue.

We must begin by recognizing the problems with our immigration system. For decades, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders. As a result, many who want to work in our economy have been able to sneak across our border – and millions have stayed.

Once here, illegal immigrants live in the shadows of our society. Many use forged documents to get jobs, and that makes it difficult for employers to verify that the workers they hire are legal. Illegal immigration puts pressure on public schools and hospitals ... strains state and local budgets ... and brings crime to our communities. These are real problems, yet we must remember that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are decent people who work hard, support their families, practice their faith, and lead responsible lives. They are a part of American life – but they are beyond the reach and protection of American law.

We are a Nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We are also a Nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals – America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time. We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we will deliver a system that is secure, orderly, and fair. So I support comprehensive immigration reform that will accomplish five clear objectives.

First, the United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign Nation. It is also an urgent requirement of our national security. Our objective is straightforward: The border should be open to trade and lawful immigration – and shut to illegal immigrants, as well as criminals, drug dealers, and terrorists.

I was the governor of a state that has a twelve-hundred mile border with Mexico. So I know how difficult it is to enforce the border, and how important it is. Since I became President, we have increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and expanded the Border Patrol from about 9,000 to 12,000 agents. The men and women of our Border Patrol are doing a fine job in difficult circumstances – and over the past five years, we have apprehended and sent home about six million people entering America illegally.

Despite this progress, we do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that. Tonight I am calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008, we will increase the number of Border Patrol officers by an additional 6,000. When these new agents are deployed, we will have more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol during my Presidency.

At the same time, we are launching the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history. We will construct high-tech fences in urban corridors, and build new patrol roads and barriers in rural areas. We will employ motion sensors … infrared cameras … and unmanned aerial vehicles to prevent illegal crossings. America has the best technology in the world – and we will ensure that the Border Patrol has the technology they need to do their job and secure our border.

Training thousands of new Border Patrol agents and bringing the most advanced technology to the border will take time. Yet the need to secure our border is urgent. So I am announcing several immediate steps to strengthen border enforcement during this period of transition:

One way to help during this transition is to use the National Guard. So in coordination with governors, up to 6,000 Guard members will be deployed to our southern border. The Border Patrol will remain in the lead. The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems … analyzing intelligence … installing fences and vehicle barriers … building patrol roads … and providing training. Guard units will not be involved in direct law enforcement activities – that duty will be done by the Border Patrol. This initial commitment of Guard members would last for a period of one year. After that, the number of Guard forces will be reduced as new Border Patrol agents and new technologies come online. It is important for Americans to know that we have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, respond to natural disasters, and help secure our border.

The United States is not going to militarize the southern border. Mexico is our neighbor, and our friend. We will continue to work cooperatively to improve security on both sides of the border ... to confront common problems like drug trafficking and crime ... and to reduce illegal immigration.

Another way to help during this period of transition is through state and local law enforcement in our border communities. So we will increase federal funding for state and local authorities assisting the Border Patrol on targeted enforcement missions. And we will give state and local authorities the specialized training they need to help federal officers apprehend and detain illegal immigrants. State and local law enforcement officials are an important resource – and they are part of our strategy to secure our border communities.

The steps I have outlined will improve our ability to catch people entering our country illegally. At the same time, we must ensure that every illegal immigrant we catch crossing our southern border is returned home. More than 85 percent of the illegal immigrants we catch crossing the southern border are Mexicans, and most are sent back home within 24 hours. But when we catch illegal immigrants from other countries, it is not as easy to send them home. For many years, the government did not have enough space in our detention facilities to hold them while the legal process unfolded. So most were released back into our society and asked to return for a court date. When the date arrived, the vast majority did not show up. This practice, called “catch and release,” is unacceptable – and we will end it.

We are taking several important steps to meet this goal. We have expanded the number of beds in our detention facilities, and we will continue to add more. We have expedited the legal process to cut the average deportation time. And we are making it clear to foreign governments that they must accept back their citizens who violate our immigration laws. As a result of these actions, we have ended “catch and release” for illegal immigrants from some countries. And I will ask Congress for additional funding and legal authority, so we can end “catch and release” at the southern border once and for all. When people know that they will be caught and sent home if they enter our country illegally, they will be less likely to try to sneak in.

Second, to secure our border, we must create a temporary worker program. The reality is that there are many people on the other side of our border who will do anything to come to America to work and build a better life. They walk across miles of desert in the summer heat, or hide in the back of 18-wheelers to reach our country. This creates enormous pressure on our border that walls and patrols alone will not stop. To secure the border effectively, we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across.

Therefore, I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time. This program would match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing. Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass criminal background checks. And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.

A temporary worker program would meet the needs of our economy, and it would give honest immigrants a way to provide for their families while respecting the law. A temporary worker program would reduce the appeal of human smugglers – and make it less likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border. It would ease the financial burden on state and local governments, by replacing illegal workers with lawful taxpayers. And above all, a temporary worker program would add to our security by making certain we know who is in our country and why they are here.

Third, we need to hold employers to account for the workers they hire. It is against the law to hire someone who is in this country illegally. Yet businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees, because of the widespread problem of document fraud. Therefore, comprehensive immigration reform must include a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility. A key part of that system should be a new identification card for every legal foreign worker. This card should use biometric technology, such as digital fingerprints, to make it tamper-proof. A tamper-proof card would help us enforce the law – and leave employers with no excuse for violating it. And by making it harder for illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people from crossing the border illegally in the first place.

Fourth, we must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully – and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration.

Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant – and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes that there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently – and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record. I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law … to pay their taxes … to learn English … and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship – but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law. What I have just described is not amnesty – it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.

Fifth, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one Nation out of many peoples. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. English is also the key to unlocking the opportunity of America. English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery … from cleaning offices to running offices … from a life of low-paying jobs to a diploma, a career, and a home of their own. When immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams ... they renew our spirit ... and they add to the unity of America.

Tonight, I want to speak directly to Members of the House and the Senate: An immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive, because all elements of this problem must be addressed together – or none of them will be solved at all. The House has passed an immigration bill. The Senate should act by the end of this month – so we can work out the differences between the two bills, and Congress can pass a comprehensive bill for me to sign into law.

America needs to conduct this debate on immigration in a reasoned and respectful tone. Feelings run deep on this issue – and as we work it out, all of us need to keep some things in mind. We cannot build a unified country by inciting people to anger, or playing on anyone’s fears, or exploiting the issue of immigration for political gain. We must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and that every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say.

I know many of you listening tonight have a parent or a grandparent who came here from another country with dreams of a better life. You know what freedom meant to them, and you know that America is a more hopeful country because of their hard work and sacrifice. As President, I have had the opportunity to meet people of many backgrounds, and hear what America means to them. On a visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Laura and I met a wounded Marine named Guadalupe Denogean. Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean came to the United States from Mexico when he was a boy. He spent his summers picking crops with his family, and then he volunteered for the United States Marine Corps as soon as he was able. During the liberation of Iraq, Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean was seriously injured. When asked if he had any requests, he made two – a promotion for the corporal who helped rescue him … and the chance to become an American citizen. And when this brave Marine raised his right hand, and swore an oath to become a citizen of the country he had defended for more than 26 years, I was honored to stand at his side.

We will always be proud to welcome people like Guadalupe Denogean as fellow Americans. Our new immigrants are just what they have always been – people willing to risk everything for the dream of freedom. And America remains what she has always been – the great hope on the horizon … an open door to the future … a blessed and promised land. We honor the heritage of all who come here, no matter where they are from, because we trust in our country’s genius for making us all Americans – one Nation under God. Thank you, and good night.

Excerpts From The Prsident Bush's ImmigratioThe following excerpts from President Bush's Immigration Address

The following excerpts from President Bush's address to the nation (as prepared for delivery) have been released.

On the President’s vision for comprehensive immigration reform:

We are a Nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We are also a Nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals – America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time. We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we will deliver a system that is secure, orderly, and fair.

On Border Security:

Since I became President, we have increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and expanded the Border Patrol from about 9,000 to 12,000 agents. . . .we have apprehended and sent home about six million people entering America illegally.

Despite this progress, we do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that. Tonight I am calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border."

On the Importance of a Temporary Worker Program to relieve pressure on the border:

The reality is that there are many people on the other side of our border who will do anything to come to America to work and build a better life. They walk across miles of desert in the summer heat, or hide in the back of 18-wheelers to reach our country. This creates enormous pressure on our border that walls and patrols alone will not stop. To secure the border effectively we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across.

On enforcing our laws:

. . . we need to hold employers to account for the workers they hire. It is against the law to hire someone who is in this country illegally. Yet businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees, because of the widespread problem of document fraud. Therefore, comprehensive immigration reform must include a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility . . .

A tamper-proof card would help us enforce the law – and leave employers with no excuse for violating it. And by making it harder for illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people from crossing the border illegally in the first place.

On the President’s opposition to amnesty:

. . . we must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully – and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration.

On assimilation:

. . . we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one Nation out of many peoples. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language.

On the tone of the debate:

We must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and that every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say.

It is interesting that the excerpts don't include anything about the National Guard being used to beef up the border.

'Bear foot And Pregnant' Teddy Unbearable

Vermont's WPTZ/NewsChannel 5 reports critics say the Vermont Teddy Bear Company's Mother's Day creation, "Bear-foot & Pregnant" is unbearable and offensive to women:

The company said it "was intended to be a lighthearted celebration of pregnancy."

But the bear's name is disturbing some women's rights advocacy groups and is spurring negative feedback on several consumer Web sites.

The self appointed critics need to get a grip. Regardless of the complaints, the $69 Bearfoot and Pregnant TEDDY sold out. According to WPTZ, the Bearfoot and Pregnant teddy is selling on the Internet for four times the original price.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Candidate For Alabama Attorney General Denies The Holocaust

The Associated Press reports Democratic Party leaders are wondering what to do about Larry Darby, a Democratic candidate for Alabama attorney general, who denies the Holocaust occurred and will and wants to "reawaken white racial awareness:"

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Darby said he believes no more than 140,000 Jewish people died in Europe during World War II, and most of them succumbed to typhus.

Historians say about 6 million Jews were slaughtered by the Nazis, but Darby said the figure is a false claim of the "Holocaust industry."

Darby said he will speak Saturday near Newark, N.J., at a meeting of National Vanguard, which bills itself as an advocate for the white race. Some of his campaign materials are posted on the group's Internet site.

"It's time to stop pushing down the white man. We've been discriminated against too long," Darby said in the interview.

How could such a bigot would win the support of 12 percent of the respondents in a recent poll?

Air Force Looking For Alternative To Oil-Based Fuel

The New York Times reports that the U.S. Air Force will test blending traditional crude oil-based jet fuel with a synthetic liquid made first from natural gas, and, eventually, from coal:

By late this summer, on the hard lake beds of the Mojave Desert, where the Air Force tests its most secret and high-performance aircraft, a lumbering B-52 is scheduled to take off in an experiment in which two of the giant bomber's engines will burn jet fuel produced not from crude oil but from natural gas. The plane's six other engines will burn traditional jet fuel — just in case.

The Air Force uses half of the fuel consumed by the U.S. government. The Air Force's share amounted to 3.2 billion gallons of aviation fuel in fiscal year 2005.

The Air Force consumed 3.2 billion gallons of aviation fuel in fiscal year 2005, which was 52.5 percent of all fossil fuel used by the government, Pentagon statistics show. The total Air Force bill for jet fuel last year topped $4.7 billion.

If the experiments with the synthetic fuel works, the Air Force planes to buy 100 million gallons in the next two years.

According to the Times, oil prices above $40 to $45 per barrel make a blend with synthetic fuels a cost-effective alternative to oil-based jet fuel.

The experimental fuel is being supplied by Syntroleum Corporation, which has provided synthetic fuel for testing by the Departments of Energy, Transportation and Defense since 1998.

The cost per gallon of the test fuel will be expensive. Syntroleum can produce 42 gallons of synthetic fuel from 10,000 cubic feet of natural gas. The raw materials cost about $70. but if the military moves ahead with using the synthetic fuels, the Syntroleum technology could be used by factories elsewhere to produce the same 42 gallons of fuel from just $10 worth of coal.

The Air Force is working with the Automotive Tank Command of the Army, in Detroit, and the Naval Fuels Laboratory. The research could result in a common synthetic fuel for the entire military.

One hundred gallons is a mere drop in the bucket of the 3.2 billion gallons used by the Air Force last year. But it is certainly a step in the right direction.

Senators Reach Deal To Revive Immigration Bill

Here we ago again. The Associated Press reports Senate leaders reached a deal that will revive the immigration reform that could provide millions of illegal aliens a chance to become American citizens.

On April 06, the Senate reached a compromise on the status of the 11-12 million illegal aliens in the U.S. That compromise proposed treating illegal aliens differently based upon the length of time they have been in the U.S.:

Those who have lived in the country at least five years would be put on a path toward guaranteed citizenship, provided that they remained employed, paid fines and back taxes, and learned English, a senior Republican aide said. The aide said this group accounted for about 7 million of the roughly 11 million illegal immigrants believed to be living here.

Those who have lived here for two to five years, said to number about three million, would have to leave the country briefly before reporting to an American port of entry, where they would be classified as temporary workers. They would be allowed to apply for citizenship but would have no guarantee of obtaining it. Those who did not would have to leave after participating in the temporary worker program for six years.

The remaining one million or so, those who have lived in the country less than two years, would be required to leave. They could apply for temporary worker status but would not be guaranteed it.

The Senate euphoria over the compromise didn't last 24 hours. The Senate's immigration reform compromise was shelved the very next day.

According to the Associated Press, the compromise failed because of an inability to agree on procedures for voting on amendments to the proposed legislation. President Bush said the compromise fell apart when Minority Leader Harry Reid refused to permit votes on more than three Republican-backed amendments. Reid was quick to deny he was at fault.

Newsweek's Eleanor Clift, a commentator generally regarded as being politically liberal, laid the blame on the Democrats:

A compromise fashioned by Republicans Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida had toughened the earned citizenship portion of the Kennedy-McCain bill and made it more palatable to Republicans yet still acceptable to Kennedy.

But according to the recollections of those close to the principal figures, a battle ensued over how many amendments the Republicans would entertain, and Democrats feared that the GOP would use the amendments to strip away the progressive elements of the bill. Kennedy argued that he and McCain had the votes to defeat any troublesome amendments.

This is the U.S. Senate, Kennedy reportedly argued. The leadership has to allow for amendments. But the Democrats were dubious. They’d been burned before. And it didn’t take much persuading when New York Senator Charles (Chuck) Schumer reportedly made the case that the failure to get a bill would be good for the Democrats. As the head of the Democratic campaign committee, Schumer is focused on getting his party back into power in November.

According to the Associated Press, the agreement announced today breaks the political stalemate with an arrangement as to who will negotiate a compromise with the House, which last December passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act.

The House legislation a hodgepodge of measures designed to regain control of the border and slow the flow of illegal immigrants across the border:

Makes illegal presence in the United States a crime, it is currently a civil offense.

Requiring employers to verify the legal status of their workers. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), made it unlawful for employers to knowingly hire or employ aliens not eligible to work and required employers to check the identity and work eligibility documents of all new employees. Under IRCA, if the documents provided by an employee reasonably appear on their face to be genuine, an employer has met its document review obligation. The easy availability of counterfeit documents has turned IRCA into a sham.

Ends the "catch and release" policy for non-Mexican illegal aliens.

Authorizes the building of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border in parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Imposes tougher penalties for smuggling and re-entry.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take all actions necessary and appropriate to achieve and maintain operational control over the entire land and maritime border.

In the negotiations to reconcile the different House and Senate bills, 14 Republicans and 12 Democrats will represent the Senate. Seven of the Republicans and five Democrats will be members of the Judiciary Committee. The remaining seven Republicans will be chosen by Frist and remaining seven Democrats chosen by Reid.

According to the Associated Press, the Senate legislation may be passed by Memorial Day.

The New York Times is less optimistic reporting that "quick passage is by no means assured, given the complexity of the immigration debate, the emotion it stirs and the approaching elections. Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, leader of the House Republican majority, said in late April that he opposed the emerging Senate legislation and its emphasis on citizenship attainment. 'I don't think that would be supported by the American people,' he said."

Boehner is right. Most of the polling on immigration reform has found little sympathy for providing benefits to illegal aliens. The Senate, in proposing to legalize millions of illegal aliens, is getting too far ahead of the American public, which prefers enforcement-only immigration reform.

Traveling

I'm traveling to D.C. to bring our son home for the summer. Posting will be erratic through the weekend.