Bush rejects party’s immigration plan

Published Thursday, June 8, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rejecting an argument being made by some conservatives in his own party, President George W. Bush said today that the idea that the United States could force millions of illegal immigrants to return home "ain’t gonna work."

Bush told a gathering of Hispanic leaders that the immigration system is broken, and Congress needs to pass "common sense" reform that strengthens the border while allowing more foreigners in to work temporarily and giving those who sneaked in years ago a chance to become citizens.

"There are those here in Washington who say, ‘Why don’t we just find the folks and send them home?’ " Bush said. "That ain’t gonna work."

He said although it sounds simple, it is impractical to insist that the 12 million illegal immigrants estimated to be living in the U.S. leave and come back legally. Conservatives in his party say allowing the immigrants to become citizens without returning home amounts to amnesty.

Bush defined amnesty as allowing those immigrants to automatically become citizens. He said instead they first should be required to prove that they have been working and abiding the law, pay a fine, learn English and wait behind those who have been in the country legally.