http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1051483

Bush wants immigration reforms as soon as possible

PTI
Wednesday, September 06, 2006 17:36 IST

WASHINGTON: The White House is now saying it is not sure if Immigration reforms will be completed before Congressional elections in November, even while insisting that President George W Bush is keen on having a comprehensive measure as soon as possible.

But as the House of Representatives convenes this afternoon after a summer break, there is no indication of loosening of stance by hardliners who are opposed to the Senate version of reforms that has illegal immigrants as one of the subjects in focus.

Estimates vary but it is generally believed that the illegal population in America is between 11 and 12 million.

Any relief extended by Congress will benefit not just those from Mexico or Latin America, but also illegal migrants of Indian origin who number around 280,000 and have registered the greatest hike in percentage terms in five years till 2005.

The House passed its version of Immigration reform late last year with a strong focus on border security and management, but had almost nothing on the legalisation of the illegals in the country or anything on increasing the numbers of H1B visa to almost double the current ceiling.

"His (the President's) position's real simple. He wants it, and he wants it done right. And he wants it done as soon as possible. This is something that legislative leaders are going to have to make up their minds about," White House spokesman Tony Snow said adding that the issue of immigration is one of the most important domestic issues.

"The president wants to deal with it, and he wants to deal with it in a comprehensive way".

Hardliners on Capitol Hill are very much against any provision in the Immigration reform that gives the ticket of legal status to illegals; and hence are quite wary at the way the Senate has approached the issue.

"... you have to come up with some way of dealing with millions of people who came here illegally, especially those who have been here for an extended period of time and have established a way of life or have children who are paying taxes and so on.

"But the president also understands that being an American citizen is no squatter's right. It is something that bears certain responsibility. He talks about paying taxes, paying fines, going to the back of the line when it comes to being eligible for citizenship," Snow remarked.

While Hispanics may be the largest single group living in US without legal papers, the Department of Homeland Security said in a recent report that the greatest percentage of increase in America's illegal population since 2000 was among people from India, registering a jump of 133 per cent.

Statistics show that there are 280,000 illegals from India as of January 2005, up from an illegal population of about 120,000 in 2000.