Senate judiciary panel begins work on immigration legislation

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee embarked Thursday on the daunting challenge of crafting an immigration bill in an election year, exposing sharp divisions over how to deal with the more than 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally.
Republicans were clearly split over President Bush's call for a temporary guest worker program, with several saying that Congress must first toughen enforcement of existing laws. "If we go forward on a temporary worker program, our problems will get worse," declared Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.
The committee will work intermittently over the next three weeks, adhering to strict marching orders by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., to have a bill ready for the full Senate by March 27. Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., called the undertaking "a gigantic task."
Illegal immigration and surging violence along the U.S.-Mexican border have combined to become one of the nation's most volatile issues, fanned by the onset of the 2006 midterm congressional races.
Although Bush has committed his administration to a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system, lawmakers are struggling to find common ground between pro-immigrant factions and those demanding toughened enforcement.
"It represents a clash between American values," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, co-sponsor of one of the major bills under consideration by the committee.