Whether its 15 million, 30 million or 45 million illegals, that's far too many. Bush`s immigration reform policy didn't go over very well with the American people, who still oppose amnesty for illegal aliens in overwhelming numbers.
He doesn't care what we think.
In an essay long ago, conservative (or neoconservative, according to Pat Buchanan's article above) political writer James Q. Wilson explained the difference between a constituency (us) and an audience. The latter are the people who contribute political money at the margins, who own the leveraged political dollars and budget dollars without which not. They are the indispensable men of politics.
A politician shines on and lies to his constituency. He obeys slavishly and performs for his audience. Thus Wilson.
Bush's audience is in Manhattan, on Fifth Avenue. They are the lords of money, and neither they nor he give a rat's ass about any of the rest of us.
Fact, dude.