Top officials promise bipartisan effort on immigration reform

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The Bush administration on Wednesday promised to support the efforts of Senate Democrats to approve comprehensive immigration reform, which many Republicans say includes amnesty for illegal aliens already here.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is writing the legislation.

“Secretary Chertoff and I come before you today on behalf of the president with a very simple message,” Gutierrez told the panel. “We believe that with some hard work, a solution can be found, and we pledge to roll up our sleeves and work with you on a bipartisan basis to find a solution that serves our national interest.”

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., began the questioning by asking bluntly whether the administration supports “a path to citizenship,” a code phrase among many Republicans for amnesty.

“That is something that we need to discuss, we need to think through,” Gutierrez responded. “There is a path to citizenship, so it’s not as if though we need to create a new path to citizenship.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, asked the men what they’re doing to “prepare for the inevitable mess that an amnesty program would create.”

Chertoff began by disagreeing with the assessment of the proposal as amnesty.

“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck,” Grassley told his fellow Republican.

Democrats and Republicans alike argued for the need to bring illegals “out of the shadows.” Gutierrez

talked about the need for more cheap labor to feed the U.S. economy.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, warned that legalizing those who are here now illegally without first sealing the border would undermine voters’ faith in the federal government.

“They felt like they had been scammed,” he said in reference to the 1986 bill that granted amnesty to 3 million illegals.

Leahy thanked the men numerous times throughout the hearing, which aides said was designed to make clear that President Bush is on the side of Democrats on this controversial issue.

“I’m hoping that the fact that both of you are here today will demonstrate the president’s wholehearted commitment to working with us to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year,” Leahy said.

churt@dcexaminer.com

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