BUSH'S PLAN TO STEM ALIEN TIDE

Since 05-14-06

By DEBORAH ORIN

May 13, 2006

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/68466.htm

-- WASHINGTON - President Bush plans to call for troops and a high-tech "virtual" fence to beef up the border with Mexico when he speaks to the nation on immigration Monday night, sources said yesterday.

The get-tough approach will be coupled with a renewed push to give illegal aliens a chance to get in line for U.S. citizenship, said a source briefed on the speech.

"He'll talk about deploying troops, strengthening border control, more raids on companies that hire illegals, a virtual fence, and letting those who are here already get in line," the source said.

The virtual fence could include lasers and unmanned aerial drones as well as cement barriers, the source said.

The White House has asked the networks for air time so Bush can address the nation at 8 p.m. Monday. "This is crunch time," said new White House press secretary Tony Snow.

There's growing talk that Bush will call up National Guard units to help police the border. Southern lawmakers pressed Bush political guru Karl Rove to do just that this week.

Border-state Arizona already has 170 National Guard troops helping to patrol, and Gov. Janet Napolitano's office says military help "is basically what she has been asking for."

The Pentagon's assistant secretary for homeland defense, Paul McHale, is exploring options like the National Guard to strengthen the borders, sources say.

Bush's big speech is a bid to propel action on a comprehensive immigration deal on the same day that the Senate resumes immigration debate after breaking a logjam.

The House has passed an enforcement-only bill, but Bush's approach is much closer to the Senate plan pushed by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), which sets a path to citizenship for illegals.

"America has thrived as a nation because we've always welcomed newcomers who, in turn, embrace our values and our way of life," Bush said yesterday as he marked Asian Pacific month.

Calling for the National Guard and a virtual border fence would add a get-tough tone at a time when most of the Republican base is focused on security and adamantly against amnesty.

Republican sources say Rove is pushing for the comprehensive deal, believing it has something for everyone and will show Republicans can get things done as they head into a tough fall election.

But enforcement-oriented Republicans say Rove is wrong, and that Bush's proposal threatens to backfire by making Democrats happy while splitting his own party and angering the Republican base.

"They're misreading the public - people want secure borders first before they start talking about a pathway to citizenship that adds up to amnesty," contended a Republican lawmaker.

deborah.orin@nypost.com