It is called corporate money. Clinton heavily supported by unions pushed NAFTA thru because the real money and power in this country wants it. GWB faces the same pressures. Illegal immigrants provide cheap labor for many businesses and puts a downward pressure on domestic labor costs. If goods and services can be globalized, why not labor? That is being encouraged by our business schools and universities. Until the victims of globalization start to organize and unite (we exist in both parties) this will not stop until part of America lives in guarded gated communities and ride in armor columns to guarded gated malls and discos. The rest of America will be poor and outside looking in.
Most Illegals employment is centered in relatively small, isolated businesses (i.e., GM is probably not an employer of Illegals nor is IBM, Pfizer or most of the Fortune 500 Companies). In fact, it could be argued that most larger businesses need relatively high employment levels, at decent wages in order to maintain Domestic markets for their products so one would think they are, at the least, indifferent on the matter. IMO, if money is involved it is more in the form of outright corruption and not, simply Corporate political support.
Whatever the reasons for this Washington arrogance I sense a real vehemence on the part of opponents of Bush's proposals and I strongly suspect that all Hell is going to be unleashed if the DC crowd arrogantly ignores the wishes of the electorate in this matter. I know I would be prepared to actively oppose my existing Republican Congressman for election if he even remotely appears to acquiesce in this matter and I will inform him of my intentions of doing so as a way of communicating my own seriousness about this matter.