Immigration bill turns less friendly to millions of illegals

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20070412-1405-immigration-lesswelcome.html

By Julie Hirschfeld Davis
ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:05 p.m. April 12, 2007

WASHINGTON – The terms of the immigration debate have turned less friendly for illegal immigrants as lawmakers and the Bush administration struggle to reach a deal in the next few weeks.

The landscape for an immigration overhaul has turned upside down in only a year, with a different party in control of Congress and new political realities for President Bush and the chief congressional negotiators.

Bush – in search of a domestic legacy – has morphed from cheerleader on the sidelines to broker in the fray, dispatching Cabinet members for lengthy daily meetings with senators on Capitol Hill.

Last year's GOP point man, Sen. John McCain – whose moderate stance on immigration defined last year's approach – is hanging back, wary of angering conservatives while he struggles to keep his presidential run going.

And while Republican divisions were highlighted last year, this time it's Democrats – eager to show they can lead – whose fissures are on display.

In an ironic twist, the outlines of a potential deal have moved to the right – toward a more difficult road to citizenship for the nation's roughly 12 million illegal immigrants – even as the power in Congress has shifted to Democrats, who overwhelmingly favor a more permissive approach.

FULL article at link.