Sources: Bush plan lets some illegal workers keep jobs
From John King
CNN
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President Bush is to unveil his immigration proposal Wednesday.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush plans Wednesday to unveil an immigration proposal that would create a Web-based job registry and a method to allow some illegal workers to keep their jobs and attain legal status, congressional and White House sources said.
The proposal is Bush's first major policy initiative of 2004 -- a critical re-election year -- and will be unveiled days before Bush travels to Mexico for a regional summit and talks with Mexican President Vicente Fox.
Immigration policy has been a source of frequent tension between the two presidents. Half of the estimated 8 million to 10 million illegal immigrants in the United States are from Mexico.
The Bush and Fox administrations together crafted the new proposal, and U.S. officials said the two presidents are determined to create a cordial and productive relationship. Bush travels to Mexico next week.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan declined to discuss details, but he did tell reporters Monday, "The president has long talked about the importance of having an immigration policy that matches willing workers with willing employers. ... It's important for America to be a welcoming society. We are a nation of immigrants, and we're better for it."
White House officials and others familiar with the proposal said it closely tracks the ideas of Sen. John McCain, Republicans in the Arizona congressional delegation, and Democratic presidential candidates.
The White House will contend that registering illegal workers is important for the economy and national security, according to the sources. But many conservative Republicans vehemently oppose any provision that would reward those who entered the United States illegally.
