President Calls On Senate To Resume Immigration Talks June 9, 2007 1:49 p.m. EST
Christopher Rizo - AHN Staff Writer
Washington, DC (AHN)-President Bush, from his meeting in Germany with world leaders, called on the U.S. Senate on Saturday to resume work toward a comprehensive immigration overhaul. Work stalled this week amid disagreements that the bipartisan proposal doesn't do enough to protect the nation's borders.
In his weekly radio address, President Bush said the bill would not grant amnesty to illegal immigrants, that undocumented workers would have to pay fines and take other steps to get on a path to legal status.
"Securing the border and upholding family values are not partisan concerns," he said. "They must be addressed, and this bill is the best way to do it."
With the White House, a small bipartisan group of senators drafted the immigration bill, which nether side say is ideal, but the best that could gain support of Democrats and Republicans.
The bill stalled Friday after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada withdrew the bill after it could not muster the votes necessary to end debate and allow a vote.
"Today, illegal immigration is supported by criminal enterprises dedicated to document forgery, human trafficking and labor exploitation," President Bush said. "This is unacceptable, and we need to fix it in a way that honors our finest traditions."
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