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BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The National Council for La Raza warns that the immigration bill now on the Senate floor might lose its support. Senators Cornyn and Alexander planning to go ahead and offer an amendment to that bill. In a memo making the rounds on Capitol Hill from a staffer at La Raza obtained by LOU DOBBS TONIGHT shows the group is adamantly opposed to the amendment.

It states, quote, "while it doesn't overtly mention assimilation, it is very strong on the patriotism and traditional American values language in a way which is potentially dangerous to our communities." And there are signs that support from other groups is conditional. They oppose adding enforcement provisions that would involve local law enforcement.

MARSHALL FITZ, AM. IMM. LAWYERS ASSOCIATION: It's basically the federal government saying to the states that, look, we've got a big problem. We haven't been able to handle it. We've abdicated on our obligations. And now we're handing this to you.

TUCKER: Meanwhile, members of the House made it clear, the Senate's bill is in for a fight, calling it out of line with public sentiment.

REP. TOM TANCREDO (R), COLORADO: Is America asking anybody? Are they asking any of us up here or any of their elected representatives? Yeah, some are. Some business representatives are asking for open borders and greater flow of cheap labor. Some labor unions are asking for it. Some of the more radical pro-immigration groups are asking for it. But John Q. Citizen doesn't want it.

TUCKER: But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce does want it, saying a guest worker program is essential to employers.

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TUCKER: Now, Lou, late today, the memo from La Raza that made the rounds on Capitol Hill today created such a stir that La Raza felt moved to issue a clarification, and in fact sending a letter of apology to Senator Lamar Alexander, saying their position had been unclearly communicated.

La Raza saying in fact, it does support the goals and aims of his legislation of learning the English language and embracing the responsibilities of American citizenship. And, Lou, they pledged to work with Alexander and Senator Cornyn in passing legislation that supports those goals.

Back to you.

DOBBS: To be clear, Bill, repeat that clause of that memorandum.

TUCKER: The email that went around today, Lou, made a point to say that it doesn't overtly mention assimilation, meaning the Cornyn- Alexander legislation, but that it's very strong in patriotic and traditional American values language. Now, La Raza says that is a part of an email chain, a discussion, if you will, that was going on, on the Internet, and that in fact, their position is, they do support English language learning and they do support embracing the responsibilities of American citizenship.

DOBBS: So in other words, they're backtracking and running from this as fast as they possibly can?

TUCKER: Yes, sir.

DOBBS: Bill Tucker reporting from New York, thank you.