Free Republic

America can both welcome immigrants and punish those who enter the country illegally, President Bush said here Monday in his latest push for a guest-worker program coupled with beefed-up border security. Bush didn't reveal new details about his guest-worker proposal in a 26-minute speech inside a hangar at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The president also didn't choose favorites among the host of proposals in Congress that deal with border and immigration issues. Bush did talk tough about illegal immigrants, first highlighting how they burden hospitals, schools and law enforcement in border states, then pledging to "promptly return every illegal entrant...

The Department of Homeland Security announced a new plan to secure the nation's borders with Mexico and Canada, hinging its latest effort on a temporary worker program, more agents and more resources on the border. The Secure Border Initiative was announced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in Houston. And in Washington, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales stressed the need for a temporary-worker program - something President Bush has been pushing for nearly two years. The immigration and border enforcement initiative comes just days before President Bush is scheduled to attend the opening day of the Summit of the Americas...