Attempting to deal with illegals here now without securing the border first is a band aid approach. There is no way to fix the current system without being able to deport those that need to be deported and making sure they stay deported. There is no way to make sure anyone stays deported with an unsecured border.
That is a straw-man's argument - As GWB is not saying lets only do one of the above...he is saying lets do both.
The reality is a sizable portion of those who are currently here illegally did not come here illegally...they came here via temporary worker permits...and simply never returned back once they were here.
This part of the system needs to be fixed (as well as the 40 year in the making border security issue). GWB is simply saying lets systematically do both. Which is exactly the right way to go.
Those here on workers permits we need to know who they are, where they are and if they do not leave we need to know that sooner rather then later - GWB is offering a system (ID cards on non-U.S. citizens) along with a process which will help to solve this temporary workers problem.
He is also at the same time addressing the border. Suggesting he isn't addressing the border and only wants to deal with either the illegals here now or those within the temp workers program simply isn't being honest. He is saying lets deal with all these issues now. Lets not push them off.