Bush Scolds Conservatives on Immigration

May 30, 07:19 AM

Current Headlines: U.S. President George Bush called for conservative lawmakers to drop their opposition to an immigration reform bill working its way through the U.S. Senate.

Speaking at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga., Bush said Tuesday that arguments about the bill allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country use the word amnesty, which he said is not the case.

This bill is not an amnesty bill. If you want to scare the American people, what you say is, the bill is an amnesty bill. It's not an amnesty bill, Bush said. For the skeptics who say that we're not concerned about border security or workplace enforcement, they need to read the bill.

The bill says illegal immigrants who want to stay in the United States must apply for a new Z visa. To receive the visa, illegal workers must admit they violated the law, pay a fine, pass a strict background check, hold a job, maintain a clean record and learn English. A recent Senate amendment also stipulates illegal immigrants must pay back taxes as well.

The measure also penalizes employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.