Bush Immigration Speech Doesn't Win House Republicans

Bloomberg

Bush, in a prime-time speech from the Oval Office last night, said tougher enforcement and a new visa program are needed to ``reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across'' the border. He also endorsed giving undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. ``for many years'' a path to citizenship.

Some House Republican leaders, who have backed border security legislation while opposing expanded immigration, immediately criticized the guest-worker proposal.

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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.

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Representative Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican, said that Bush, by proposing a National Guard deployment, is ``just trying to get a bill passed and appease the conservatives somewhat.'' Bush's bid for support won't work, Jones said.