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Immigration bill passes hurdle in House
Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:47 PM ET

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation cracking down on illegal immigration passed a key hurdle in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, clearing the way for passage despite deep divisions among majority Republicans over President George W. Bush's proposed temporary worker program.

The House voted 216-203 to continue debate on the legislation that would force employers to check the status of their employees, after Republican leaders rejected efforts by Rep. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican to include in the bill language expressing support for a guest worker program.

Flake said he believed any final measure coming out of negotiations with the Senate would include one.

When it takes up immigration reform in February, the Senate is likely to include a guest worker program that also deals with the 11 million illegal aliens working and living in the country. The two chambers must then work out their differences.

The White House said it remained committed to comprehensive immigration reform that includes a guest worker program that would allow workers from Mexico and other countries to temporarily live and work in the United States.

Flake said such a program could be used to address the millions already living and working in the United States.

"Without a temporary worker program, we will continue to turn a blind eye to their existence," Flake said. He and other backers of Bush's plan argue a comprehensive approach is essential to slowing the flow of illegal immigrants.

The issue deeply divides the Republican majority. Some argue only a comprehensive approach that includes a guest worker program and provides a way for undocumented workers in the country to gain legal status will work. But a core group argue that it would reward those people who entered the country illegally and they want to deal only with border security and enforcement issues.

"There is obviously, to put it mildly, strong differences of opinion on this question," said Rep. J.D. Hayworth, an Arizona Republican who opposes a guest worker program.

Rep. Thomas Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, said the House bill would discourage illegal immigrants by clamping down on the biggest lure -- jobs. The bill requires employers to check on the legal status of employees and increase penalties on businesses that hire undocumented workers.

"You will find people will go home and they will go home by the millions," he said. "Those who don't go home you deport."

Most Democrats oppose the bill saying it lacked compassion for those people who have been living and working in the United States, many of them for years.

Rep. Jim Costa, a California Democrat, also said those voting for it could face the wrath of business people who have to bear the cost of enforcing its measures and who could face big fines for employing an illegal worker.