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Americans Demonstrate Across the Country Over Immigration Reform

Bush says healthy, democratic societies allow people to express themselves

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across the United States April 10 to make their opinions heard about immigration reform.

Responding to the public turnout, President Bush described immigration policy as "an important issue that people feel strongly about." He added, "[T]he good thing about a democracy is people can express themselves."

Addressing reporters after a speech he delivered April 10 in Washington, Bush said Americans "ought to be compassionate about this debate...."

Noting that the United States is a nation of immigrants, the president said the country nonetheless must secure its borders and enforce the law. Bush emphasized the need for immigrants to enter the United States legally. "People ought to ... be able to work on a temporary basis, and if they want to become a citizen," he said, "they get in line like everybody else...." (See related article.)

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said there was bipartisan agreement in the Senate to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform adding that immigration reform is "a high priority" for the president.

The president "believes that if we're going to fix the immigration system, we must do it in a rational and comprehensive way, and that's what he's continuing to advocate," McClellan said.

McClellan said successful legislation would include securing U.S. borders, increasing Border Patrol agents and deploying new technologies to prevent the entrance of illegal immigrants.

The president is emphasizing the importance of a temporary guest worker program that "will help relieve pressure off the border and help us do a better job of securing the border by allowing our Border Patrol agents to focus on those who are criminals and terrorists, smugglers and traffickers that are trying come into this country for the wrong reasons," he said.

McClellan said Bush would be urging the Senate and the Senate minority leader to let the comprehensive bipartisan agreement move forward.

See also "White House Issues Fact Sheet on Immigration Reform."

Source: U.S. Department of State

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