PenceBlog: <b><i>Washington Post:</i> Hutchison-Pence Plan "Gets a Boost"</b> - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

Click here to read Jonathan Weisman's Washington Post story about Rep. Pence's border tour today.

Here is an excerpt:

"Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will tour the Texas-Mexico border this morning with the conservative authors of a congressional immigration compromise, in what will be the clearest sign yet that the Bush administration is prepared to make major concessions to reach an immigration deal this year.

"Chertoff's appearance with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) is 'in no way meant to signal an endorsement' of their compromise, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said. But it was seen by supporters and opponents yesterday as a boost for the plan and a significant White House concession to conservatives.

"Under the compromise, most of the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants would be allowed a chance to work in the country legally -- and possibly earn citizenship. But no guest-worker program would be made operational until stringent border-security measures are implemented, and illegal immigrants would have to report to privately run 'Ellis Island' centers in Mexico to apply for legal work permits."

posted by Pence Press Office # 8:37 AM