President Bush's Speech on Immigration

LOU DOBBS TONIGHT
Special Edition: President Bush Pushes For Immigration Reform
Aired May 15, 2006 - 20:24 ET

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May 15 8:15 PM US/Eastern

From the AP

Text of President Bush's speech on immigration Monday

Bush to Send Up to 6,000 Troops to Border
May 15, 8:13 PM (ET)
By NEDRA PICKLER

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush said Monday night he will send as many as 6,000 National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico to help stop the flood of illegal immigrants, part of an administration drive to win conservative support in Congress for an election-year overhaul of the nation's tattered immigration laws.

"We do not yet have full control of the border and I am determined to change that," the president said in a prime-time address from the Oval Office.

Bush gave strong support to a plan that would give many of the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States an eventual chance of citizenship - a move derided by some conservatives as amnesty. He rejected that term.

Immigration Quotes

Quotes in response to President Bush's border security proposal

Analysis: Bush Aims to Step Right, Left
By TOM RAUM
Associated Press Writer

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From Fox News

Bush to Send 6,000 National Guardsmen to Southern U.S. Border
Monday , May 15, 2006

WASHINGTON — Saying the United States is not militarizing its southern border, President Bush announced Monday night that he is sending up to 6,000 National Guard troops to shore up U.S. Border Patrol efforts to stop the flow of illegal immigrants pouring in from Mexico.

Bush said that the Guardsmen will not serve in a law enforcement capacity, but as assistance to the Border Patrol.

"The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems, analyzing intelligence, installing fences and vehicle barriers, building patrol roads and providing training," Bush said in a speech from the Oval Office.

"This initial commitment of Guard members would last for a period of one year. After that, the number of Guard forces will be reduced as new Border Patrol agents and new technologies come online.

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From Reuters

Bush admits broken border, to send Guard troops
Mon May 15, 2006 8:17 PM ET
By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush admitted the U.S.-Mexico border was broken on Monday and said he will deploy up to 6,000 National Guard troops there as he responded to mounting pressure from conservative allies to take tougher steps against illegal immigration.

"We do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that," Bush said in a prime-time Oval Office address timed to get out in front of a U.S. Senate debate on a sweeping immigration overhaul.

Bush was trying to shore up support from conservatives demanding a tougher border enforcement policy. But to their chagrin, he also insisted on a temporary guest-worker program for illegal immigrants that would let them fill jobs Americans refuse.

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From UPI

• Bush seeks biometric IDs for immigrants
• Bush seeks guest worker program
• Bush: National Guard to man border
  

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Hugh Hewitt on the President's Speech
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liveblogging Bush's speech
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Comments from "The Corner" at the National Review
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From the Pajamas Media: Immigration Nation: News and Views
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Expose the Left has the President's speech on video.