Citizenship - or amnesty?

Senate measure to ease path to legality for undocumented immigrants has stirred up GOP, sparking fears it will cost incumbent seats in fall

BY CRAIG GORDON | Newsday Washington Bureau

March 31, 2006

WASHINGTON - House hard-liners tore into the president and Senate moderates yesterday over what they called an amnesty plan for illegal immigrants, saying Republicans could lose control of Congress this fall if they appear to coddle lawbreakers.

A Senate bill that would clear a path to citizenship for undocumented workers is roiling the Republican Party, and some conservatives yesterday turned their anger on President George W. Bush for his support of key provisions.

"I don't think he's concerned about alienating voters. He's not running for re-election," said Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), a leading anti-immigration voice in his party. "I wish he'd think about the party and of course, I also wish he'd think about the country."

On a visit to Cancun, Mexico, yesterday, Bush sought to deflect some Republican anger at his citizenship proposal by playing up his call for tighter borders after a meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox.

"Border security is not just one country's prerogative. It's the prerogative and duty of both countries," Bush said.

Back home, other House members were even more heated, suggesting prisoners could be used to do menial jobs now done by many illegals and blasting pro-immigration protesters who waved the Mexican flag. "Go to Mexico and wave the American flag," said Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.).

At the same time, the second day of Senate immmigration debate also highlighted sharp divisions among Republicans, mainly over whether the proposal being considered amounts to a get-out-of-jail-free card for 12 million undocumented workers who broke the law to come here.

Critics of that approach label it "amnesty" and say that at a minimum illegal workers must return home while awaiting the legal right to live here. House Republicans passed a bill last year that includes no path to citizenship, only get-tough border-security plans.

Supporters of the Senate proposal deny that it amounts to amnesty, saying the law would create a 10-step process that would take someone more than a decade, by paying a $2,000 fine and back taxes, learning English, undergoing a background check and staying employed.

Both sides indicated negotiations were under way on a compromise but indicated the sides remained far apart, as was clear from the Senate floor debate.

"Why would we let criminals become citizens of the United States?" said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who has proposed a bill that would require workers to return home to await legal status.

A bipartisan group of senators, led by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), brought its bill to the floor yesterday, seeking to replace a border-security-only bill from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). The Senate appears headed for a showdown vote on the bills late next week.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a supporter of Specter's approach, challenged critics to explain how they would eliminate what he called "de-facto amnesty" in place now, where illegal workers are allowed to stay because law enforcement doesn't have the tools to find them and send them home.

But the deep divisions among Republicans have made many members skeptical that a bill will be complete before the November elections. For one thing, McCain said, it will be difficult to find middle ground when some members want to send workers home and others believe they should be allowed to continue working here while awaiting legal status.

Peter Clark of the Washington bureau contributed to this story.