Bush calls for 6,000 troops along border

05/15/2006

In Oval Office speech, president backs legalization process

Monday, May 15, 2006; Posted: 9:43 p.m. EDT (01:43 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN)—Trying to navigate the political minefield of immigration reform in a televised address to the nation Monday night, President Bush called for a “comprehensive” approach to solve “a matter of national importance.”

Bush called for the short-term deployment of up to 6,000 National Guard troops in a supporting role along the U.S.-Mexico border.

And he and endorsed a controversial proposal to give illegal immigrants already in the United States a path to work toward eventual citizenship.

“The issue of immigration stirs intense emotions—and in recent weeks, Americans have seen those emotions on display,” Bush said.

“In Washington, the debate over immigration reform has reached a time of decision.”

Bush outlined an approach combining tougher southern border enforcement with a guest-worker program for those “who will do anything to come to America to work and build a better life.”

“We are a nation of laws, and we must enforce those laws,” Bush said. “We are also a nation of immigrants, and we must hold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways.” (Text of speech)

In a nod to conservatives in his base calling for a crackdown on illegal immigration, the president conceded that “we do not yet have full control of the border” and called on Congress to fund “dramatic improvements” in manpower and technology along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Watch the political implications of the debate—1:43)

He reiterated his opposition to giving illegal immigrants already in the country an “automatic path” to citizenship.

But in a nod to America’s growing and politically vital Latino population, Bush made the argument that a guest-worker program is necessary to gain control of the border and relieve the “enormous pressures on our border that walls and patrols alone will not stop.”

Bush has long championed a guest-worker program that would allow people to enter the United States to fill jobs for which employers can’t find enough American workers.

Monday night, he offered his most in-depth comments to date on the politically thorny issue of what to do with illegal immigrants already in the country.

The Senate resumed debate Monday on immigration legislation that would create a mechanism by which illegal immigrants could proceed toward legal status, and eventual citizenship, by working for a number of years, paying fines, undergoing a background check and learning English.

Critics dismiss such a legalization process as “amnesty.” Supporters reject that term, insisting the process amounts to “earned citizenship.”

For the first time, Bush publicly endorsed the idea, calling it “rational middle ground” between a policy of giving all illegal immigrants “automatic” citizenship or deporting them, which Bush said would be “neither wise nor realistic.”

“People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship, but approval would not be automatic, and they would have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law,” Bush said.

Bush did not say how many years an immigrant would have to have lived in the United States to be eligible. An immigration reform plan that has the support of Senate GOP leaders would limit legalization to those in the country longer than five years.

Any form of legalization could be a tough sell to members of Bush’s own party, particularly in the House, where lawmakers passed an immigration bill in December that contained neither a worker program nor a legalization process.

Critics of a legalization process say it would only encourage more people to cross the border illegally—and that not enough has been done to increase security in order to stop them.

Part of Bush’s answer to those critics is his proposal to send National Guard troops to serve in a support capacity in four Southwestern states—California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Map)

Giving the Democratic response to Bush’s speech, Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the assistant minority leader, said Bush’s leadership would be required to bring the House and Senate Republicans together.

“We know where the House Republicans stand. They want to criminalize undocumented immigrants and the nurses, volunteers and people of faith who help them,” Durbin said.

“The president has the power to call up the National Guard, but now he must summon the power to lead his own Republican forces in Congress to support a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform.”

Troops called temporary

The Guard force Bush proposed would remain under state control, although the federal government is expected to pick up the cost.

“The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems, analyzing intelligence, installing fences and vehicle barriers, building patrol roads and providing training,” Bush said.

“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,” Bush said.

About 350 Guard troops currently are assigned to the border.

Active-duty U.S. troops are barred from domestic law enforcement by a Reconstruction-era law known as Posse Comitatus, but National Guard troops under state control can perform some law enforcement functions.

Bush’s plan to deploy the National Guard received initial support from both Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

“On the face of it, I think it is a good idea,” said Reid, a Nevada Democrat. “I think that we have to understand that the states can’t afford to do this. It’s not their responsibility. It’s a federal responsibility.”

Reid also said the National Guard is already stretched thin by deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, a concern echoed by two prominent Republicans who have questioned the plan—Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

The number of Guard troops deployed to Iraq has been cut by more than half, from about 50,000 a year ago to 23,000.

News that the National Guard might be deployed along the border also prompted Mexican President Vicente Fox to call Bush on Sunday to express concerns about any possible move to “militarize” the roughly 2,000-mile border between the two countries, according to spokespersons for both leaders.

“The United States is not going to militarize the southern border. Mexico is our neighbor, and our friend,” Bush said.

“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.”

Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, a former Border Patrol officer, sent a letter to the White House warning that the deployment of National Guard troops could be badly received south of the border—and could result in Mexican voters choosing an anti-American president in their July election.

“If that happens, illegal immigration will be the least of our problems,” said Reyes, a Democrat. “Mexico is not our enemy, and there is much at stake for both our countries with respect to security, commerce and culture.”

In his speech, Bush said his administration would end the “catch and release” policy, under which illegal immigrants apprehended from countries other than Mexico are released and allowed to live in the United States while awaiting a deportation hearing.

To end “catch and release,” Bush said more facilities would be build to detain illegal immigrants, and he said steps were being taken to expedite the hearing process.

The policy does not apply to illegal immigrants from Mexico, who are normally sent back within 24 hours under an arrangement between the two countries.