Bush coming to Georgia to push immigration bill

By KEN HERMAN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 05/25/07

Washington — President Bush on Tuesday will visit a South Georgia facility that trains Border Patrol agents, pushing back against conservatives who say the Senate's compromise immigration bill, which he supports, would do little to secure the border.

Supporters of the bill say it's just what Bush needs to be doing as he seeks approval of the bill. Opponents agree — but see it as a mere public relations exercise.

"It reminds people of all he hasn't done," said Steve Camarata of the Center for Immigration Studies, who believes Bush has done little to enforce the border. "But it's a good photo op and it's probably something he needs to do if he wants his legislation passed."

The trip to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco will put Bush in the home state of two GOP senators — Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson — who are under fire from constituents for their part in negotiating the bill. In particular, it was Isakson's idea to condition the bill's reforms, including providing a route to legal residency for illegal immigrants, to meeting goals for border security.

The White House insists the Georgia trip has nothing to do with the senators. Instead, the locale was picked because Bush hasn't been there and he can quickly get there and back to Washington.

Bush spokesman Scott Stanzel said Friday the trip will highlight the fact that the bill "starts with border security first."

"So it will be an opportunity for him to talk about what we're doing to secure the nation," Stanzel said.

The quick trip South is part on an all-out push by the White House on immigration, an issue Bush has chosen to be the topic he wants to highlight his domestic policy legacy.

In addition to the Bush trip to Georgia, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will continue their full-time efforts in support of the bill.

On Sunday, Gutierrez will debate Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) about the bill on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

At a Thursday news conference, Bush acknowledged that many Americans "are rightly skeptical about immigration reform."

"Last year, during the debate, people said, 'Well, let's have security first'. That's exactly what the bill does," Bush said. "However, I don't see how you can have the border security the American people expect unless you have a temporary worker program with a verifiable work card."

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/met ... 7&cxcat=13