Free Republic

President Bush's proposal to give temporary legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants is running into stiff resistance from both left and right on Capitol Hill and stands little chance of enactment this year, according to supporters and opponents. While this assessment is based on early responses, with the lobbying effort barely begun, some lawmakers say the measure's only chance of passage this year would require an all-out push by the president, and even that might not be enough.

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryJanuary 10, 2004 President's Radio Address      Audio THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. As the year 2004 begins, America's economy is strong and getting stronger. More Americans than ever own their own homes. More businesses are investing. More manufacturers are seeing increased activity than at any time in the last 20 years. Stock market wealth has increased by more than $3 trillion over the past year. And over the past five months, more than a quarter-million Americans started work at new jobs. In December, the unemployment rate fell to 5.7 percent, from a high of 6.3...

<p>WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Saturday his program to allow illegal immigrants to work in the United States legally for up to three years was designed to put "willing foreign workers" in jobs that Americans are "not willing" to do.</p>

Passengers crowd a van bound from Hermosillo to Agua Prieta. Such taxi vans are popular with border crossers. View additional images... HERMOSILLO, Sonora - The shrill whine of the jet engines slowed, and amid businessmen in suits, families and tourists, Pablo Silva emerged in a faded, dirty shirt and a baseball cap. His first time on a plane, he was heading for the border where he would meet a smuggler to take him across.  Tuesday, he joined the first crush of illegal entrants who will be smuggled into the United States this year, a wave border agents gear up...